Southern African Power Pool

Also known as: SAPP

Regional electricity grid receiving power exports from Namibia and Angola, constrained by limited transmission capacity.

2024-03-232026-08-21

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

March 2026
15 MarInformanté
Southern African Power Pool exports energy to NamPower
Source
“The cost to procure energy forms the largest portion of the revenue requirement, including import contracts with Zesco, ZPC, and Eskom, as well as energy imported from the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), among others.”
NamPower applies for a bulk tariff increase of 8.4% for financial year 2026/27
January 2026
26 JanInformanté
Southern African Power Pool supplies 60% of Namibia's electricity from South Africa
Source
“He added that, as a result, Namibia imports 60% of its electricity supply from South Africa through the Southern African Power Pool.”
Namibia cannot shy away from the prospect of nuclear energy generation – Dr. Mbuende

World & Region

SADC leaders focus on integration, industrialisation at summit

The News

Southern African Development Community leaders gathered for their 46th Ordinary Summit in eThekwini have prioritised migration management, peace, security, job creation, industrialisation and deeper economic integration. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who assumed the SADC chairship, called for faster implementation of regional development plans, noting that intra-SADC trade accounts for only about one-fifth of the region's total trade and that SADC must process and beneficiate more of its own raw materials rather than exporting them.

17 August 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 17 August

SADC leaders focus on integration, industrialisation at summit
Southern African Development Community leaders gathered for their 46th Ordinary Summit in eThekwini have prioritised migration management, peace, security, job creation, industrialisation and deeper economic integration. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who assumed the SADC chairship, called for faster implementation of regional development plans, noting that intra-SADC trade accounts for only about one-fifth of the region's total trade and that SADC must process and beneficiate more of its own raw materials rather than exporting them.
17 August 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 29 July

ECB renews ban on electricity export generation licences
The Electricity Control Board has renewed a moratorium on granting generation licences for electricity export purposes, effective from 5 September 2025 for 40 months (until 5 January 2029) or until transmission network constraints are alleviated. The move is prompted by limited transmission capacity on interconnectors within South Africa, which constrains electricity exports from Namibia into the Southern African Power Pool.
29 July 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 29 June

Electricity sales up 2.8% in first quarter 2026
Namibia's electricity sales in Q1 2026 increased by 2.8% year-on-year, though domestic electricity production declined by 15.3% while imports surged by 32.9%. The Electricity and Water sector recorded a 2.5% increase in real value added, with the Water subsector growing 8.5% while Electricity subsector growth slowed to 0.4%.
29 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Sunday 24 May

Namibia's February electricity consumption rises 13% year-on-year
Namibia consumed 440GWh of electricity in February 2026, up 13% from 390GWh a year earlier. Imports supplied 56% of demand, with Ruacana hydroelectric station producing 156GWh domestically, while independent power producers contributed 34GWh.
24 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 20 April

Namibia funds N$4 billion power interconnector with Angola
The Namibian and Angolan governments have finalised a N$4-billion agreement to build the Angola-Namibia Interconnector, a 160km transmission line linking Angola to the Southern African Power Pool for the first time. Namibia is solely financing the project through its National Energy Fund and expects to receive 300MW of firm power.
20 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 16 April

Namibia and Angola formalize N$4 billion power interconnection deal
Namibia and Angola have signed binding agreements to jointly develop a cross-border power interconnector (ANNA), featuring a 166-kilometre transmission line linking the Kunene region to Cahama and a further 270-kilometre line between Omatando and Otjikoto. The project, estimated at N$941 million for the interconnector component and set for completion by 2029, aims to enhance regional energy security, diversify Namibia's electricity supply, and enable Angola to leverage its renewable and hydro resources across the Southern African region.
16 April 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 15 March

NamPower seeks 8.4% tariff increase for 2026/27 financial year
The Namibia Power Corporation has submitted a bulk tariff application of 8.4%, raising the average tariff from 206.11 c/kWh to 223.40 c/kWh. The Electricity Control Board noted that while cost-reflectivity would require a 30.4% increase, NamPower has opted for a measured approach to balance tariff cost-reflectivity with affordability.
15 March 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 10 February

Gerus Solar One, Namibia's second merchant solar plant, inaugurated
The 19.3 MWp Gerus Solar One Project, located between Otjiwarongo and Otavi, was officially inaugurated by the British High Commissioner. The plant, developed by Solarcentury Africa in partnership with Sino Energy, will sell electricity directly into the Southern African Power Pool, contributing to Namibia's renewable energy capacity and regional power trade.
10 February 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 26 January

Namibia pursuing nuclear energy to address power shortage
Dr Kaire Mbuende, Director-General of Namibia's National Planning Commission, said the country cannot ignore nuclear energy generation given its status as Africa's largest uranium producer. He cited energy insecurity—with less than 60% of the population having electricity access and 60% of supply imported—as justification for pursuing nuclear alongside renewables, oil and gas, and small modular reactors, all under an IAEA-compliant national strategy.
26 January 2026 · Informanté →