The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Energy Outlook forecast, shows that the PIDA Priority Action Programme, if implemented, will boost energy trade within and between power pools. This will have a positive impact on the cost of the kWh due to economies of scale, (implementation of big projects serving many countries); energy mix (countries with dominant hydro potentials supplying those with dominant thermal - gas and coal - potentials), and; increased access to modern energy services, which in turn will trigger increased access to clean water and improved health care systems.

According the NEPAD Agency CEO, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, “Experience on the African continent in energy infrastructure has shown that optimal solutions for national challenges are actually found in regional solutions.”  It is in this context that the governments on Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya, are fast-tracking the ZTK power generation transmission project with technical support from the NEPAD Agency and other institutions.  The ZTK transmission interconnector project comprises a 697-kilometer 400/330 kilovolt transmission line.

Stakeholders of the ZTK power generation transmission project met in Arusha, Tanzania, between 21 – 23 August to deliberate on the draft final feasibility study, as well as the draft final Environmental Social Impact Assessment and Resettlement Action Plan of the Tanzania-Zambia interconnection part of the project.

The feasibility study includes some of the following elements which were analysed: Load forecast; regional power market analysis; generation and transmission expansion plan; supply-demand analysis; line dynamics and stability , study of the line route; network analysis; analysis of rural electrification; implementation schedule; risk analysis and project viability.

The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Resettlement Action Plan on the Tanzania-Zambia section was conducted under the auspices of the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Programme - NELSAP. The report reveals that there will be no major impacts for the implementation of the Tanzania-Zambia interconnection on the environment, provided the recommendations for mitigation measures are taken into account.

Both the feasibility and Environmental , Social Impact Assessment Studies reports were considered to be final and accepted after incorporating comments made by the participants  

The ZTK project starts from Kabwe / Pensulo in Zambia through Mbeya in Tanzania to Isinga in Kenya via Iringa, Singida and Arusha in Tanzania. Completion of this project will expand and strengthen power markets on the continent by connecting the Eastern African Power Pool to the Southern Africa Power Pool.

At the meeting in Arusha, Prof Mosad Elmissiry, NEPAD Agency’s Senior Energy Advisor emphasised on the unique importance of the ZTK project in the creation of a continental energy market in Africa. “ZTK is one of the high priority energy projects under PIDA,” he said. He commended the project main stakeholders for advancing the project to its current state of development.

Prof Elmissiry also confirmed NEPAD Agency’s continued support towards efforts that will see the realisation of the ZTK project. In addition, he informed the meeting that NEPAD Agency has recruited a consultant to package the project for the investors’ conference and to support the convening of a meeting to consider the Engineering Design Concept.

Preparations for the Investors’ Conference on ZTK were also deliberated on in Arusha. The event will now be held in November 2017, in Livingstone, Zambia.  An organising committee which includes NEPAD Agency has been formed to plan and attend to the logistics of holding the conference.

The meeting in Arusha was attended by stakeholders from NELSAP, COMESA, NEPAD Agency, Tanzania, Zambia and Kenya, Southern African Power Pool and power utilities. Partners at the meeting included the government of Germany, government of Norway, European Union, African Development Bank and World Bank.

Source: NEPAD Agency