Zambia will restart the construction of a power line that will link the country to East Africa, forming one of the world’s largest energy markets, a senior official from the World Bank revealed on Friday.

The Zambia–Tanzania Interconnector Project is set to resume this month, with an expected completion date in 2028, according to Achim Fock, the World Bank’s country manager for Zambia, who spoke during a signing ceremony.

The $320 million project, aimed at connecting the power supplies of Zambia and Tanzania, is being funded by the World Bank, the European Union, and the UK.

The remaining work will cost $298 million, with a World Bank grant covering $245 million, said Acting Finance Minister Chipoka Mulenga during the same event.

Although the project was initially proposed more than ten years ago, it has faced multiple delays, most recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns surrounding Zambia’s debt default at the end of 2020.

After reaching a deal with bondholders last year, Zambia is now considered a test case for restructuring its debt under the G20’s Common Framework, a platform that brings together major creditors like China and the Paris Club nations.

Fock noted that creating an integrated energy market connecting the Southern and East African power pools would help reduce electricity costs, enhance energy security, and open up new trade and investment opportunities in Africa’s power sector.