ZESCO, the power utility of Zambia eventually commissioned the long awaited 220 kV line from the Victoria Falls power station to Sesheke substation at 23:05 on Saturday, 16 September, NamPower announced. Katima Mulilo will now be fed electricity from the newly installed 220/66kV transformer at Sesheke substation.

Katima Mulilo town and surrounding areas have been supplied by a 66kV line from Victoria Falls supplemented by a 3 mega watt diesel generator at Katima Mulilo.

Due to the transfer capacity restrictions on the existing 66kV line from Victoria Falls to Sesheke, the power flow from Zambia to Katima was limited and this hindered development projects in the Caprivi Region.

On 5 September, NamPower upgraded the transformer at Katima Mulilo Substation from 5MVA to 10 MVA to enable enough supply to Katima Mulilo and surrounding areas in anticipation of the commissioning of the 220kV link from Victoria Falls to Sesheke. Power supply will be possible to Linyanti, Chinchimane, Masokotwane, Gunkwe, Kabbe and Sifua villages by NORED this weekend. The new 220kV from Victoria Falls to Sesheke will enable a transfer capacity to Katima Mulilo substation of up to 12 MW, which will considerably boost economic activities in the region. The commissioning of the Victoria Falls –Sesheke 220 kV is the joint effort of NamPower and ZESCO and its completion is an input to the first phase of the envisaged Caprivi DC link which will integrate the Zesco power supply system to the NamPower electricity grid.