HH Urges Speed on Critical Tanzania Power Link

President Hakainde Hichilema has expressed concern about the slow pace of the Tanzania-Zambia power interconnector project, saying Tanzania has excess electricity which Zambia urgently needs and can pay for.

Speaking during a bilateral meeting with an EU delegation on Wednesday, President Hichilema said the growing economy and power deficit make the project critical for the country's development.

"We appreciate your support, but we have a serious concern that it's too slow. Tanzania is sitting on excess power. We need it here, and we can pay for it. Our mines, our economy needs the power," he said.

The President said Zambia is targeting 10,000 MW installed capacity but currently hovers around 4,000 MW. He noted that the power shortage stems from reduced hydro capacity due to drought and increased demand from the growing mining sector, which is pushing toward one million tonnes of copper production this year.

President Hichilema called for ingenuity and private sector participation to accelerate the interconnector's completion, saying time is of the essence.

"We don't have just to catch up to recover the lost hydro generating capacity, but it's to generate more to support the growing demand," he said.

The President emphasized that mines are ready to pay for the power once the interconnector becomes operational.