Zambia Rewires Its Power System to Anchor Southern Africa’s Energy Trade

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Zambia is accelerating a multi-pronged overhaul of its power sector, combining new generation capacity, grid reinforcement and regional interconnection to address domestic supply constraints while positioning itself as a strategic electricity hub in Southern Africa.

At the center of this effort is renewed momentum behind the Batoka Gorge hydroelectric project, a long-delayed flagship development on the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls. Earlier this month, Zambia and Zimbabwe agreed to mobilize $440 million to restart preparatory works, with each country committing $220 million toward the project’s eventual $4.2 billion cost. Once completed, Batoka Gorge is expected to add 2,400 MW of installed capacity, split evenly between the two countries, significantly expanding available baseload power in the region.

Beyond domestic transmission, regional interconnection has emerged as a defining pillar of Zambia’s energy strategy. The $292 million Zambia–Tanzania Interconnector Project, backed by the World Bank and development partners, is constructing a 400 kV corridor linking Zambia to Tanzania and, by extension, the East Africa Power Pool. Once operational, it will allow Zambia to import power during supply shortfalls and export surplus electricity, linking Southern and Eastern African power markets for the first time.

Source: Wikipedia