The World Bank has approved a new grant of $292 million to the Zambian government to fund the Zambia–Tanzania Interconnector Project (ZTIP), aimed at enhancing sustainable and affordable energy access.
The financing package, announced through a statement to ZNBC News, will bolster Zambia’s energy sector by increasing power transmission capacity between Zambia and Tanzania, fostering integration between East and Southern Africa’s power networks.
According to World Bank Country Manager for Zambia, Achim Fock, the Zambian power sector is facing significant financial challenges that have hindered the country’s economic growth. He emphasized that the ZTIP initiative complements both regional and national efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability of the energy sector while promoting universal electricity access.
“This partnership will help Zambia address critical issues in its power sector while creating a platform for more sustainable and affordable energy solutions,” Mr. Fock said.
Yadviga Semikolenova, the World Bank’s Energy Practice Manager for Eastern and Southern Africa, highlighted the project’s role in strengthening Zambia’s resilience to climate shocks. She noted that the initiative would reinforce the country’s transmission system to support new renewable energy projects and enable broader electricity access.
Of the total grant, $245 million is being provided by the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), $17 million by the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, and $30 million by the European Union.
The Zambia–Tanzania Interconnector Project marks a significant step forward in addressing Zambia’s energy challenges while aligning with broader goals of regional energy integration and climate resilience.
Lack of foresight and strategic planning has gotten us to this; how embarrassing. I hope the administration will now start seriously thinking about the Angola inter-connector to prevent future crippling blackouts.
Hopefully it will be managed correctly and not simply used to export power for short-term gains in the hope that someone will arrange to fill up the dam again immediately
Does it mean we have to go to world bank and
Donors for anything and everything?
What a shame a Country of borrowing
All his money for an inter-connector when the money can be spent locally to generate more electricity!! The problem with this govt is that it does not consult Zambians and just acts alone. Energy is a domain of experts and up to now no crack team has been assembled by GRZ to address our power shortages three years into their misrule. This is not the best way to spend money as there are other ways the money could have been used to resolve the power issues immediately. The money will just be invested in a transmission system instead of a generation system or hardware. This week SA celebrated 300 days of no load-shedding after being devastated by load-shedding for a number of years. They pooled their resources ad have resolved this embarrassing issue.
Our experts can’t even build drainages in Lusaka and other flood prone areas……..
How will they fix the load shedding issue ?
FWD2031
Note that Grants can be conditional such that you cannot use it on any other thing. This one was specifically given for the interconnector.
Comment:whatever it is,on power problem,it’s all previous govts to blame,however it’s just eye opener to this govt and other govts to come.
Can some tell me what our National debt stands at now ???
Why is loadshedding becoming worse and worse everyday?
Because they have lost control and no maintenance
The work teams are good and trying their best
It’s management where the problem lies and obviously political interference
HH and others havent suffered even 1 hour loadshedding Since they caused this they should be on the same schedule as us
Some on here will only wake up we redeuced to junk stayus