Multinational - Zizabona Power Interconnection Project

The ZIZABONA project aims at increasing trade in energy among Zimbabwe, Zambia, northern Malawi and north-eastern Mozambique. The project has been selected as a priority regional project under the AfDB regional integration strategy paper, and it is a segment of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) interconnection corridor. When fully operational, the ZIZABONA transmission interconnector will, among other things, allow NamPower to import directly from Hwange in Zimbabwe. Currently, electricity from the Hwanga Power Station is routed to Namibia through South Africa. This Power interconnection when implemented would link directly the four important power national markets concerned, and strengthen the overall SAPP and enhance trade between all countries in the networks, including with South Africa. Additionally, it will promote increased trade within SADC by providing another power transmission corridor. NEPAD-IPPF grant is seeking a grant of US$1.9 million to support the ZIZABONA Members through SAPP to: 1) Update the Environmental Impact Assessment in Zambia because of the design changes; 2) To assess the economic and financial viability of the project; 3) To improve the design and structure of the project; 4) To improve project supervision and administration capacity of the SAPP. The duration of preparatory works is estimated to be eighteen (18) months from the date of contract signature and the SAPP will be the executing agency.