The World Bank has approved a US$12 million (R218 million) technical assistance package for the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) under the RETRADE-SAPP programme. The support aims to help crowd in private capital for transmission and strengthen participation and liquidity in the regional power market.
According to the World Bank, the initiative will accelerate electricity trading across SAPP’s 12 member countries by enabling greater cross-border power flows and integrating more renewable energy. The institution says these outcomes are expected to contribute to industrial development and job creation across the region.
“We hope that this investment will accelerate support to our members in delivering resilient energy infrastructure while accelerating increased private-sector investment and cross-border electricity trading,” says Steve Dihwa, Executive Director of the SAPP Coordination Centre.
As Phase 2 of the World Bank’s RETRADE-SA Multi-Phase Programmatic Approach, the funding will also support preparation and implementation of World Bank-financed interconnector projects in the region. The initiative aligns with continental strategies such as the African Union’s Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, SADC’s Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan, the Africa Single Electricity Market and the World Bank’s Mission 300, which seeks to connect 300 million people to affordable and reliable electricity in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
“The expansion and integration of regional transmission networks is critical to improve the reliability and affordability of electricity in Africa,” says Ndiamé Diop, World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa.
