The Republic of Zambia has approved plans to construct a high-voltage electricity transmission line to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The approval which was given by Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board greenlights the construction of a high-voltage transmission line connecting the country’s copper-rich North-Western province to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In a statement by the Energy Regulation Board, the agency said the project represents a “major step toward strengthening regional power trade and advancing the government’s goal of attracting private sector investment in energy infrastructure.”
The Kalumbila-Kolwezi Interconnector Project (KKIP) will span approximately 196 kilometers across the border between the two mineral-rich nations, with 124km in Zambia and 72km in the DRC.
Enterprise Power Zambia Limited (EPZ) and its affiliate Enterprise Power DRC SARL (EPDRC), collectively known as En/Power Zambia, are taking the lead on this project.
The approval comes shortly after Enterprise Power officially broke ground on the project in March, marking a significant milestone in addressing the region’s energy challenges.
The project represents Sub-Saharan Africa’s first privately developed and financed cross-border transmission project.
Chilombo Emmanuel Kalenga, Managing Director of Enterprise Power Zambia, underscored the significance of the project: “As Zambians, we can be proud of hosting the first privately developed and funded cross-border transmission Project on the African continent.”
Open Access Framework’s role in boosting regional power trade
A distinctive feature of the project is its operation under Zambia’s Open Access Framework, which will allow licensed power companies to utilize the infrastructure for cross-border electricity trade. This framework aims to increase competition and efficiency in the regional power market.
“Although privately developed and funded, this will not be a private line. It will be open to licensed power companies and enhance the competitiveness of the regional power market,” Director Kalenga explained during the groundbreaking ceremony.
Upcoming electricity projects in Zambia
Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board (ERB) approved 62 licenses and 8 construction permits including the Kalumbila-Kolwezi Interconnector Project (KKIP), totaling over ZMW 11 billion (around $370 million) across petroleum, electricity, and renewable energy projects.
The projects include:
The 100MW solar power plant in Mumbwa: This $75m project by Sun Share Energy aims to expand Zambia’s renewable energy capacity and reduce dependency on hydropower.
The 8MW off-grid solar PV plant with battery storage: Located in North-Western Province, this $8m facility by Sany International (Zambia) includes 20MWh of battery storage and is intended to support local mining operations and deliver electricity to remote communities.
