ZAMBIA AND TANZANIA BUILDING US$1.2 BILLION POWER INTERCONNECTOR TO LINK EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICAN ELECTRICITY GRIDS.
Zambia and Tanzania are undertaking a major electricity infrastructure project, known as the Tanzania-Zambia Transmission Interconnector (TAZA), aimed at connecting the Eastern and Southern African power grids.
The project involves approximately 1,200 kilometres of high-voltage transmission lines, comprising mainly 400 kV lines on the Tanzanian side and 330 kV lines on the Zambian side.
The wider 2,300-kilometre interconnection project, agreed upon in 2014, is estimated to cost US$1.2 billion and is expected to facilitate electricity trading of up to 500 megawatts (MW) between the two countries and the wider regional power markets.
While construction progress on the Tanzanian side is reportedly more advanced, Zambia is targeting the second quarter of 2029 to commission its portion of the interconnector.
Once completed, the project is expected to strengthen regional electricity trade, improve power supply security and enable countries to share electricity resources during periods of surplus or shortage.
Zambian Watch.