The NEPAD-IPPF (Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility) has approved US$3.88m in grants to the governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique and Zambia to finance completion of two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) 330-400 kV Regional Interconnectors.
The interconnection line project between Kolwezi (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Solwezi (Zambia) received US$1.98m, while the Zambia-Mozambique line received US$1.9m, excluding US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) co-financing worth US$0.8m. The grants will help fund full feasibility studies, including detailed design and tender documents within two years.
The two interconnectors are amongst the key corridors in the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) network architecture within the regional grid. In the long term, they will help connecting the north-south and east-west Southern African Development Community (SADC) power grid.