Drive to interconnect power systems

Energy, rail and infrastructure investments are the main drivers of project cargo in the Southern African Development Community. There is a continent-wide push to interconnect power systems. Launched in April 2025 is the $1.3bn Zambia-Tanzania- Kenya (ZTK) Interconnector, a 2 300km transmission line linking the East African Power Pool (EAPP) with the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) through Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya. The Zambian section is co-financed by the European Union, World Bank and United Kingdom government. It supports Zambia’s 8th National Development Plan and the implementation of the EU-Zambia Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Raw Materials and the UK-Zambia Memorandum of Understanding on Renewable Energy, according to a joint statement released at the launch. The development of strategic economic corridors such as Lobito, which have high energy needs, will benefit. It is expected to spark more investment in mining and beneficiation, which keeps project cargo wheels moving. “This interconnector will be crucial in helping Zambia achieve its goal of tripling copper production by 2031 by providing a reliable power supply for the industry and alleviating constraints on economic activity,” the statement points out. One of the biggest projects nearing tender phase is the Angola-Namibia interconnector, a 366km, 400kV line between the Lubango substation in the central Huila province of Angola to the existing Kunene substation in Namibia, the May report by the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) reveals. There are also major investments in rail. Tanzania is seeking to raise $5.5 bn for a 1 000km high- speed freight and passenger standard gauge line between the Indian Ocean port of Mtwara and the Lake Nyasa port of Mdamba Bay, and the Mchunchuma coal mines and Liganga iron ore deposit in southwestern Tanzania. It will support economic development in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, says the Tanzania Railiways Corporation. There will be more demand for rail-related project cargo services as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Railway Infrastructure Master Plan rolls out. ER