Zambia Tanzania power line plans are gaining momentum as a private energy trader moves to invest heavily in cross-border transmission infrastructure, a development that could significantly boost electricity supply for Zambia’s mining-driven economy.
Kanona Power Company, a Zambian-based electricity trader, is planning a $100 million high-voltage transmission line linking Zambia directly to Tanzania for the first time. The project would allow Zambia to import electricity more reliably from East Africa while strengthening regional grid resilience.
If completed as planned, the Zambia-Tanzania power line could be operational within a year, well ahead of a larger, multilateral transmission project backed by the World Bank that aims to complete the final missing link in Africa’s continental power corridor stretching from Cape Town to Cairo.
A strategic response to boost Zambia’s electricity supply
Zambia’s push to boost electricity supply has become urgent following a severe power crisis triggered by drought conditions in 2024. The country relies heavily on hydropower, which accounts for more than 80% of its electricity generation. Prolonged low water levels at major dams sharply reduced output, leading to widespread load shedding that disrupted households and industrial users alike.
The impact was particularly acute in the copper mining sector, the backbone of Zambia’s economy and one of Africa’s largest sources of the metal. Copper producers require stable, uninterrupted power to operate energy-intensive smelters and processing plants. Power shortages not only raised costs but also threatened production targets at a time when global demand for copper remains strong due to the energy transition.
By creating a new import route through Tanzania, the proposed Zambia-Tanzania power line would diversify Zambia’s power sources and reduce its exposure to climate-related shocks.
Kanona Power says its project is designed to complement, not compete with, the existing government-led Zambia–Tanzania interconnector, which has been under development for more than a decade. That larger project, supported by $245 million in World Bank financing, is expected to come online around 2028.
In contrast, the privately funded line could deliver benefits much sooner.
The new transmission corridor would run between Mwakibete in southwestern Tanzania and Nakonde in northeastern Zambia, a strategic border point that already serves as a major trade gateway between southern and eastern Africa.
According to industry analysts, the faster timeline reflects growing private-sector appetite to step in where public infrastructure projects have faced delays due to financing, procurement, and coordination challenges.
Beyond increasing import capacity, the Zambia Tanzania power line is expected to strengthen Zambia’s national grid by adding redundancy, a critical factor in preventing large-scale outages.
Energy experts note that a more interconnected grid allows utilities to balance supply more effectively, move power from surplus regions to deficit areas, and respond quickly to system shocks. For Zambia, this could help stabilise electricity supply during dry seasons or periods of high industrial demand.
The project would also support Zambia’s longer-term ambition to position itself as a regional power trading hub, leveraging its central location between Southern and Eastern Africa.
Across the continent, governments and investors are increasingly turning to cross-border electricity infrastructure as a way to address chronic power shortages and reduce generation costs.
Last year, the World Bank approved funding for a high-voltage transmission line linking Uganda and Tanzania, part of a broader effort to integrate Africa’s fragmented power markets. Similar projects are under discussion in West and Central Africa, where uneven generation capacity has long constrained economic growth.
For Zambia, closer integration with East Africa’s power systems could open access to new sources of electricity, including gas-fired and renewable generation, helping to boost electricity supply beyond the limits of domestic hydropower.
Founded in 2023, Kanona Power has quickly established itself as an active participant in Zambia’s electricity market, trading power across borders and supplying large industrial users. Its move into transmission infrastructure signals a broader shift toward private capital playing a larger role in energy networks, which have traditionally been dominated by state utilities.
Business groups in Zambia have welcomed the initiative, arguing that faster improvements in power reliability are essential for sustaining investment in mining, manufacturing, and agriculture.
As Zambia works to rebuild confidence after recent energy disruptions, projects like the Zambia-Tanzania power line are increasingly seen as practical solutions rather than long-term ambitions.
While regulatory approvals and financing arrangements are still being finalised, the project underscores a growing recognition that energy security is now a competitiveness issue for Zambia.
If delivered on schedule, the new interconnector could provide early relief to power-constrained industries, support economic recovery, and strengthen Zambia’s position within Africa’s evolving energy landscape.
For a country seeking to boost electricity supply, attract investment, and safeguard its mining-led growth model, the success of this private transmission initiative could mark a turning point.
