The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) of Zambia has approved the "Kalumbila-Kolwezi" project, which aims to expand the national power grid by constructing a transmission line to Lualaba Province in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the ERB press service, the project is estimated to cost $270 million.
The new power line will stretch approximately 200 kilometers and operate at a voltage of 330,000 volts.
In its official statement, ERB emphasized that the Kalumbila-Kolwezi project represents an important step towards strengthening regional electricity trade and achieving the Zambian government's goal of attracting private sector investment into the country's energy infrastructure.
To boost power generation, Zambia plans to construct two solar power plants. One of these stations will be connected to the national grid and have a capacity of 100 MW, while the other will serve the Ruida mine in the North-Western Province independently.
At the recent ERB meeting, several new energy licenses and permits were also approved, including those related to renewable energy generation, petroleum product transport, electricity distribution and supply, as well as other energy projects.
Energy security remains a pressing issue for many African nations. In April 2025, Zambia announced plans to proceed with the construction of a power line to Tanzania, a project funded by the World Bank, the EU, and the United Kingdom.
