President Hichilema Urges Faster Completion of Tanzania-Zambia Power Interconnector
Zambia Calls for Accelerated Tanzania-Zambia Power Interconnector to Address Mining Sector Energy Shortage
President Hakainde Hichilema has expressed concern over the slow progress of the Tanzania-Zambia power interconnector project, emphasizing that Zambia urgently needs electricity that Tanzania currently has in surplus.
Speaking during a bilateral meeting with a European Union delegation on Wednesday, President Hichilema stressed that the project is critical for Zambia’s growing economy and energy security.
“We appreciate your support, but we are seriously concerned about the pace. Tanzania has excess power, and we need it here—we can pay for it. Our mines and our economy depend on this electricity,” he said.
The President highlighted that Zambia is targeting an installed capacity of 10,000 MW, but current capacity hovers around 4,000 MW. The energy shortfall is largely due to reduced hydroelectric output from droughts, combined with rising demand from the mining sector, which is approaching one million tonnes of copper production this year.
President Hichilema called for innovative solutions and increased private sector involvement to accelerate the interconnector’s completion, noting that timing is critical.
“We must not only recover lost hydro capacity but also generate additional power to meet growing demand,” he said, adding that mining companies are ready to purchase electricity as soon as the interconnector becomes operational.
