The Zambia-Tanzania-Kenya interconnecting power project which is designed to enhance electricity trade and reliability in the region is waiting for funds to commence the construction due early next year.

"All studies are complete and we are just waiting for finances to commence the project beginning early next year," Office of the Promotion of Private Power Investment (OPPPI) director John Wright was quoted by Tuesday's The Post as saying.

"When completed, it will produce 400 megawatts at a total cost of 650 million U.S. dollars," Wright said.

He said 300 million dollars would be used to strengthen the existing transmission lines while the remainder would cater for new infrastructure.

The project will be carried out in three phases with part one beginning at Pensulo sub-station in Zambia's Serenje up to Mbeya, according to Wright. The second phase will begin from Mbeya to Singida in northern Tanzania with the last phase joining Arusha and Nairobi in Kenya.

Wright said a consortium of three international companies have been appointed as transaction advisors for the project who will help raise funds and also assist with legal aspects for the project to take off.

And OPPPI principal engineer Clement Saasa said the transaction advisors had already submitted their inception report that has outlined how they intended to carry out the works.

He said the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) has provided grants that were used to finance feasibility studies of the project.

Source: Xinhua