I.A.M - Magazine - Page 26
SOUTHERN AFRICAN POWER POOL
THE PIONEER
Established in 1995, the Southern African Power Pool
(SAPP) is Africa's most advanced electricity market and
is gradually evolving into a regional competitive
electricity market, with active trading occurring
between April 2024 and February 2025. With 81 GW of
total installed capacity (55 GW operating) against a
demand of 50 GW, SAPP is the only regional power
pool in Africa that has implemented competitive energy
trading. As of March 2025, the demand and supply
balance has improved, showing a surplus capacity of
962 MW, up from 879 MW in September 2024.
Several countries including Angola, Mozambique,
South Africa, and Tanzania currently have excess
generation capacity, supported by increased
investments in variable renewable energy sources.
Notable developments include the commercial
operation of Kusile Unit 5, the extension of Koeberg
Unit 01's license to 2044, and the commissioning of
three units at the Julius Nyerere Power Station. Despite
these advancements, some operating members face a
generation deficit of 1.4 GW, with suppressed demand
observed in Zambia and other parts of the region.
Yet even in this relatively mature market, integration
gaps persist. A telling example is Angola's 2 GW of
surplus power that cannot reach neighbouring
countries due to missing interconnections—a stark
reminder of the work that still needs to be done.
Additional developments include Medupi Unit 4's
expected re-synchronization, while the planned Mega
Solar Parks between Botswana, Namibia, and South
Africa will increase clean electricity trade, powering
climate action across southern Africa.
WEST AFRICAN POWER POOL (WAPP)
THE AMBITIOUS INTEGRATOR
The AfDB has been at the forefront of
developing regional power infrastructure.
Between 1997 and 2021, the Bank has approved
23 power interconnection projects and 20
studies across 76 operations – which have
amounted to a total investment of UA 1,760.09
million. These investments have targeted
strategic connections between countries with
abundant renewable generation and those
dependent on costly thermal generation.
Currently the continent has five transformative
power pools, with a sixth in offing, each of which
represents a distinct chapter in the Africa's
integration story. Know about them:
The West African Power Pool (WAPP) has built
impressive
momentum,
with
eight
major
interconnections already operational across its 20 GW
system. Since the end of 2023, all 14 continental West
African countries have been interconnected thanks to
various projects financed by the African Development
Bank (AfDB) with other donors. These include, (i) the
225 kV Côte d'Ivoire - Liberia - Sierra Leone - Guinea
(CLSG) interconnection project (1,M km) and the 225 kV
interconnection project (1 700 km) of the OMVG
countries (Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and
Senegal). Permanent linkage of the various grids was
achieved in July 2023 when the electricity networks of
thirteen West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso,
Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau,
Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo) were
synchronized. Full synchronization of the Nigerian grid
with those of Togo/Benin is under consideration.
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