Zambia expects a major electricity transmission line connecting its power network to Tanzania to begin operations in the second quarter of 2029, advancing a $1.2 billion regional infrastructure project designed to improve electricity reliability and expand cross-border power trading across Eastern and Southern Africa.
According to Reuters on November 5, 2026, Zambia’s Electricity Minister Peter Kapala informed lawmakers that the Zambia-Tanzania Power Interconnector would be commissioned in 2029. The project forms part of a wider 2,300-kilometre transmission network linking Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya.
The infrastructure will connect the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) with the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP), creating a new electricity trading link between the two regions. Once completed, the project is expected to enable Zambia to trade up to 500 megawatts of electricity, supporting Regional Electricity Trade in Africa and positioning the country as a regional power trading hub.
Zambia has secured $292 million in grant funding from the World Bank Group, European Union and United Kingdom for its section of the project. Construction contracts covering major sections of the Zambian transmission route have also been awarded.
Zambia-Tanzania Power Interconnector Scheduled for Second Quarter of 2029
The Zambia-Tanzania Power Interconnector is expected to enter service during the second quarter of 2029, according to Electricity Minister Peter Kapala.
Kapala disclosed the timeline while addressing lawmakers on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
“The full scope of the Zambia-Tanzania interconnector project will be undertaken in 24 months and is therefore scheduled to be commissioned by the second quarter of 2029,” Kapala said.
The project was agreed upon in 2014 and is intended to establish a high-voltage electricity transmission connection between Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya.
The wider infrastructure programme covers approximately 2,300 kilometres and carries an estimated cost of $1.2 billion.
Zambia is responsible for constructing just over 600 kilometres of transmission lines within its territory.
The announced commissioning date provides a timetable for the Zambian section of the regional connection. However, the Reuters report does not provide separate completion dates for every transmission segment in Tanzania and Kenya.
The project is therefore scheduled to advance toward regional integration, with the actual availability of cross-border trading capacity depending on the completion and coordination of the necessary infrastructure.
$1.2 Billion Transmission Project to Connect Three African Countries
The electricity project involves Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya, establishing a transmission corridor between Southern and Eastern Africa.
Its estimated $1.2 billion cost covers the wider regional infrastructure programme, not exclusively Zambia’s construction responsibilities.
The planned network spans approximately 2,300 kilometres, making it a significant cross-border electricity transmission undertaking.
High-voltage transmission infrastructure allows electricity to move across long distances between generation facilities, substations and interconnected national grids.
Such connections can support electricity exchanges between countries with different production capacities and demand conditions.
The Zambia-Tanzania Power Interconnector is intended to provide this type of connection between two established regional electricity markets.
The project could improve the ability of participating electricity systems to exchange power when supply and demand conditions permit.
However, the reported investment figure does not establish that the full $1.2 billion has already been disbursed.
Reuters also did not provide a complete financing breakdown for the Tanzanian and Kenyan sections.
The confirmed information identifies the estimated project cost, its regional scope and Zambia’s funding arrangements.
Zambia Secures $292 Million From World Bank Group, EU and UK
Zambia has secured $292 million in grant funding for its portion of the transmission project.
The funding comes from the World Bank Group, the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Grants differ from conventional loans because they generally do not require repayment under the terms of a standard debt-financing arrangement.
The announced funding will support Zambia’s responsibilities within the Zambia-Tanzania Power Interconnector.
These responsibilities include constructing more than 600 kilometres of electricity transmission infrastructure.
However, Reuters did not specify how the $292 million is divided among the three funding partners.
The report also did not disclose a detailed spending schedule or the total cost of Zambia’s section.
The financing commitment is significant because large electricity transmission projects require substantial investment before they can begin delivering operational benefits.
The secured grant funding provides a financial foundation for Zambia’s construction activities.
The eventual cost and implementation progress will depend on procurement, construction and the completion of the required infrastructure.
Sinotech Consortium Awarded Two Transmission Construction Phases
China’s Sinotech Consortium has been awarded contracts covering two sections of the transmission line in northern Zambia.
According to Minister Peter Kapala, the contracts were awarded in October 2026.
The first phase covers a 186-kilometre transmission line from the Pensulo substation to Mpika.
The second phase covers approximately 200 kilometres from Mpika to the Kasama substation.
Together, the two awarded phases account for 386 kilometres of the planned transmission route.
The contracts represent an important implementation step because they identify a contractor for major sections of the Zambian infrastructure.
However, Reuters did not disclose the financial value of the Sinotech contracts.
The report also did not specify when physical construction would begin or provide a detailed schedule for the remaining transmission sections.
The contract awards confirm progress in project procurement but do not establish that the entire line has already been constructed.
Further project updates will be needed to determine the completion status of individual sections.
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Zambia-Tanzania Power Interconnector to Link SAPP and EAPP
One of the most important objectives of the Zambia-Tanzania Power Interconnector is to connect the Southern African Power Pool with the Eastern Africa Power Pool.
The Southern African Power Pool supports electricity cooperation and trading among participating power systems in Southern Africa.
The Eastern Africa Power Pool serves a similar regional coordination role among participating electricity systems in Eastern Africa.
Connecting the two power pools would establish a transmission pathway between electricity markets that have historically operated through separate regional arrangements.
The infrastructure is intended to support Regional Electricity Trade in Africa by making cross-border electricity exchanges possible through an interconnected network.
A regional power connection can allow participating systems to buy electricity from neighbouring markets when available generation and transmission capacity permit.
It can also create additional opportunities for electricity producers to sell power outside their domestic markets.
However, physical infrastructure alone does not guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply.
Effective trading also depends on generation availability, grid stability, operational coordination and the commercial arrangements governing electricity transactions.
The planned interconnector provides the transmission infrastructure needed to support these activities.
Zambia Targets Up to 500 Megawatts in Cross-Border Electricity Trade
Once the interconnector is completed, Zambia expects to be able to trade up to 500 megawatts of electricity.
Minister Peter Kapala identified this capacity as one of the project’s expected benefits.
The figure describes the amount of power Zambia could trade through the planned connection, not an amount already being exchanged.
A megawatt is a measure of electrical power capacity.
The proposed 500-megawatt trading capability could provide Zambia with additional opportunities to participate in regional electricity markets.
However, Reuters did not specify how much of the capacity would be allocated to electricity imports or exports.
It also did not provide projected annual trading volumes or expected revenue.
The actual amount of electricity exchanged will depend on available supply, market demand and the commercial agreements reached by participating electricity providers.
The 500-megawatt figure should therefore be understood as a planned trading capability, not a guarantee that the full capacity will be used continuously.
Regional Electricity Trade in Africa Could Improve Supply Reliability
Expanding Regional Electricity Trade in Africa is central to the project’s intended contribution to electricity reliability.
Countries connected through regional transmission networks can exchange electricity when one system has available power and another requires additional supply.
Such arrangements may reduce dependence on domestic generation alone.
They can also provide more options for electricity procurement during periods when local supply is constrained.
The Zambia-Tanzania connection is designed to create additional trading opportunities between Southern and Eastern Africa.
However, the Reuters report did not quantify the expected reduction in power outages or identify the number of households and businesses that would benefit.
The project should therefore not be presented as a confirmed solution to electricity shortages in any participating country.
Its contribution to reliability will depend on the performance of the connected power systems and the availability of electricity for trade.
Transmission capacity is an important part of regional electricity integration, but generation, maintenance and grid management remain necessary.
The proposed connection is expected to expand the options available to electricity system operators once it becomes operational.
Peter Kapala Positions Zambia as Regional Electricity Trading Hub
Zambia’s Electricity Minister Peter Kapala has identified the interconnector as an important step toward establishing the country as a regional hub for electricity trade.
The planned connection would place Zambia between two major African electricity markets.
Its geographical position within the proposed transmission corridor could allow the country to participate more actively in cross-border electricity exchanges.
Kapala’s statement links this objective to the expected 500-megawatt trading capability and the connection between SAPP and EAPP.
However, the announcement does not establish that Zambia has already achieved the status of a regional electricity trading hub through this project.
That outcome will depend on the successful commissioning of the infrastructure and the development of operational trading arrangements.
The minister’s comments therefore describe the intended strategic role of the project.
They also indicate that Zambia views the transmission line as an economic infrastructure investment, not solely a domestic electricity supply initiative.
Why the Zambia-Tanzania Power Interconnector Matters for Kenya
Kenya is included in the wider 2,300-kilometre transmission project linking Zambia, Tanzania and East Africa.
Its inclusion gives the programme a broader regional dimension.
The connection is designed to create a pathway through which electricity systems in Eastern and Southern Africa can participate in wider trading arrangements.
Kenya’s role is relevant because the Eastern Africa Power Pool forms one side of the planned interconnection.
However, the Reuters report did not identify specific Kenyan electricity companies that would participate in transactions under the project.
It also did not provide the amount of electricity Kenya could import or export through the completed network.
The project should therefore not be interpreted as confirmation of a particular electricity supply agreement involving Kenya.
Its significance lies in the planned transmission connection and the opportunities that could emerge once the infrastructure and trading arrangements are operational.
The development of these arrangements will determine how participating countries use the regional connection.
Regional Electricity Trade in Africa Requires Coordinated Infrastructure
The planned connection between SAPP and EAPP demonstrates the importance of coordinated infrastructure investment in Regional Electricity Trade in Africa.
Electricity transmission projects that cross national borders require cooperation among participating countries and institutions.
Construction schedules, technical standards and operating arrangements must be coordinated to establish a functional regional connection.
The Zambia-Tanzania project was agreed in 2014, while the announced commissioning target is the second quarter of 2029.
The extended period between the original agreement and the planned operational date illustrates the long development timelines associated with major infrastructure projects.
However, Reuters did not provide a detailed account of delays or identify specific causes of the project’s development timeline.
It would therefore be inaccurate to attribute the schedule to particular financing or construction difficulties without further evidence.
The current announcement confirms grant funding for Zambia, the award of two construction phases and the expected commissioning period.
These developments establish the project’s reported implementation position as of November 2026.
What This Means For Africa
The planned Zambia-Tanzania Power Interconnector is significant because it aims to establish a direct electricity transmission connection between Southern and Eastern Africa’s regional power markets.
The project is expected to link SAPP and EAPP through a wider 2,300-kilometre network connecting Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya.
Once completed, the infrastructure could expand Regional Electricity Trade in Africa by allowing participating power systems to exchange electricity across a larger interconnected market.
The planned 500-megawatt trading capability represents an opportunity for Zambia to participate more actively in cross-border electricity transactions.
However, the expected capacity does not establish actual future trading volumes or revenue.
The project’s contribution to electricity reliability will depend on available generation, transmission performance and operational cooperation.
The $292 million in grant funding secured by Zambia also demonstrates the role of international development partners in financing large regional infrastructure projects.
The World Bank Group, European Union and United Kingdom are supporting Zambia’s portion of the network, while Sinotech Consortium has received contracts for major construction sections.
The development is relevant to African efforts to expand cross-border infrastructure and improve electricity market integration.
Connecting regional power pools can create opportunities for electricity trade across countries with different generation and demand conditions.
However, the benefits will only become measurable once the infrastructure is operational and electricity transactions begin.
Minister Peter Kapala has identified the second quarter of 2029 as the commissioning target.
If the project proceeds according to that schedule, Zambia will move closer to establishing its planned electricity trading connection with Tanzania and the wider Eastern African market.
The Zambia-Tanzania Power Interconnector therefore represents a major regional infrastructure commitment whose long-term significance will depend on successful construction, commissioning and the development of functioning cross-border electricity trade.
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