LUSAKA, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at constructing a joint hydropower plant to boost power generation, a senior Zambian government official said on Tuesday.

       The deal will see the two countries constructing a power plant on the Luapula River and an interconnector.

       Peter Kapala, Zambia's Minister of Energy, said the deal signed on Monday will result in the actualization of 1,188 MW of electricity and the construction of a 330 KV interconnector line.

       He said in a statement that the project builds on the plans for interconnectors in the region, adding that the agreement also builds on the initial deal signed in 2015 which was not implemented.

       The project, he said, will be executed by power utility firms of the two countries.