PIDA Sector: Energy
PIDA Sub-sector: Generation – Hydro
Member States: Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia
Region: Central Africa, Southern Africa
Beneficiary Countries: Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho,
Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Regional Economic Community: Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)
Project Institution: SAPP
Strategic Alignment and Regional Commitment
Source in the National Master Plan: The governments of the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Zambia signed an Intergovernmental Memorandum of
Understanding (IGMOU)
Source in the REC Master Plan SADC RIDMP and SAPP Pool Plan: 2017, Linked to
the North-South Transmission Corridor of the PIDA programme
Brief Description of the Project: The governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC) and the Republic of Zambia signed an Intergovernmental Memorandum of
Understanding (IGMOU) on 9 July 2015 for the joint development of generation projects in
the Luapula River Basin and for a new power interconnector between the two countries. The
national power utilities of the two countries entered into specific memoranda of
understandings for the development of the generation projects and for the power
interconnector respectively. The Inter Utility Memorandum of Understanding for the power
interconnector was also signed on 9 July 2015.
The Luapula River was initially investigated for hydropower development by the Zambian
Government in 1976 during which time five sites indicated below were established and
investigated. Later in 2001, ZESCO LTD confirmed the potential of over 1188MW of which
more than 773MW is firm capacity. However, previous project development plans were
constrained because the development plans were only coordinated from one country despite
the location of the river being on the border.
Objective and Rationale for the Project
The project objectives are as follows:
• Provide clean energy there by contributing to sustainable industrial and economic
development in the two countries.
• Reduce the current levels of power deficits in the two countries
• Increase access to electricity to various parts of the two countries
• Contribute to increase SAPP energy market capacity
• To improve the network stability in the southern region of DRC and the Northern
region of Zambia.

Location/Site: DRC and Zambia
Existing or Planned Projects along the proposed project: The project serves a
planned infrastructure asset of another sector, but there is more than 50% overlap in the
geography serviced by the proposed project and the other sector planned asset.
Technical Specifications of the Project 1200 MW hydro installed capacity in 4 phases
Market Size SAPP Market
Project Financial (in USD) US$ 9 Million for project preparation phase. First
implementation phases will target 270 MW estimated to cost 540 M USD
Gender Procurement actions In accordance with the SADC Gender policy and
guidelines
Last Milestone Known S2B - Feasibility