China-built Hydropower Project Energizes Zambia
As a flagship project between China and Zambia under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Kafue Gorge Lower Hydropower Project (KGL) is Zambia's largest infrastructure project in more than 40 years. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said the KGL was one of the achievements of longstanding cooperation between two countries.
Zambia has many rivers and abundant water resources. However, due to insufficient investment and inadequate infrastructure construction, only about 25 percent of the country's urban population and about three percent of its rural population have a stable electricity supply, which severely restricted its economic development.
The KGL was built by PowerChina, with a total installed capacity of 750 MW. In June 2021, the first unit of the KGL was connected to the grid. In March 2023, all of its five units were successfully connected to the grid. By the end of 2024, the KGL had generated more than 10.5 billion kWh of electricity.
The project plays an important role in the peak and frequency regulation of Zambia's power grid. Its completion and operation boosted Zambia's national power supply by approximately 38 percent by the end of November 2023.
The KGL not only meets the electricity demand of Zambia, but also means it can export electricity to other countries, including Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia, contributing to the overall development of the southern Africa region. It provides a good foundation for Zambia to develop new energy industries, and contributes to Zambia's green and low-carbon development.
In addition, the project has created about 15,000 jobs for locals and empowered the development of industries, including building materials, commerce, transport and mining sectors.
Boosted by the KGL, the local government plans to build a new town with a population of about 5,000. PowerChina has also built schools and roads for the surrounding villagers.
In recent years, China and Zambia have carried out cooperation in many fields, at various levels, such as the new Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport and Kafue Bulk Water Supply Project, under the framework of BRI and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
