Zambia and Zimbabwe Invest $440 Million in Batoka Gorge Hydropower Station to Enhance Southern Africa's Energy Security
Zambia and Zimbabwe have jointly committed $440 million to the $4.2 billion Batoka Gorge Hydropower Station project near Victoria Falls, aimed at improving energy security in Southern Africa. This initiative is part of broader efforts to link Southern and East Africa through new cross-border transmission lines, facilitating the development of an integrated power market.
A bi-national committee has been established to secure additional funding, while engineering and environmental studies are in progress. The project has a potential output of 2,400 megawatts. Zambia and Zimbabwe are also part of the 12-member Southern Africa Power Pool, which coordinates electric power systems among its members.
In addition, the Zambia-Tanzania-Kenya Interconnector, set to begin construction this year, will connect to the East African Power Pool, further expanding the regional market. This project is supported by the African Development Bank, World Bank, and European Union.
