China's state-owned commercial bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank (ICBC) will grant a loan of $285m to Zambia for the development of an electricity transmission line that will link the southern and eastern Africa.

ICBC’s loan will support the construction of the 365 km transmission line in Zambia that will connect Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya.

Zambia-based power company Zesco managing director Ernest Mupwaya said that the construction of the project will be undertaken by China’s TBEA.

He also said that construction of this line will not only improve security and reliability of supply but also enhance cross-border power trade.

The line will help to boost mineral exploration, agriculture and tourism in the region and help in the construction of the greenfield hydropower stations in Northern Zambia.

Construction of the power line is scheduled to commence in November 2011.