Namibian Mining News The Professional Mining Journal
Related Articles
Africa’s renewable energy revolution is moving beyond just generating power; the focus has decisively shifted to connecting these projects to unlock a true regional energy market, according to experts at SRK Consulting (South Africa). The surge in wind, solar, and hydro schemes across the continent is now being leveraged by ambitious powerline connectivity, a crucial step toward establishing a robust regional power network. This infrastructure development is seen as a key driver for sustainable and inclusive economic growth, especially in a region long hindered by energy constraints.
Countries in Southern Africa are increasingly capitalising on their natural competitive advantages. Namibia, rich in wind and solar resources, is positioning itself to produce low-carbon electricity and green hydrogen, which is opening doors to downstream industries like the production of green hot briquetted iron. Meanwhile, Angola’s proposed Baynes Hydro Power Plant on the Kunene River is set to generate a significant 600MW of clean power. Connecting these new supply points to mining complexes, industrial hubs, and other demand centres requires extensive powerline development, which in turn fosters the potential for cross-border energy trade.
SRK Consulting partner and principal environmental consultant, Darryll Kilian, highlights that while African nations are prioritising self-sufficiency, the potential for increased electricity sales across borders is becoming a major commercial focus. An essential added advantage of this extended infrastructure is the increased network resilience, offering a critical buffer against temporary shortages caused by breakdowns or, for hydro schemes, reduced generation due to droughts—a growing risk under climate change scenarios. The World Bank has committed almost $30-million to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) to accelerate projects within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with SRK Consulting having previously assisted the SAPP in developing an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) to fast-track assessments and implementation.
Progress on regional interconnectors is accelerating. The Mozambique–Malawi Interconnector has reached financial close and is now commencing construction. Both the Zambia–Tanzania Interconnector and the Angola–Namibia Interconnector have completed crucial feasibility studies and environmental assessments, with eleven other regional projects also seeing significant preparatory work completed. Within Angola, the Gove-Chipindo-Cuvango-Jamba Transmission Line Project—a new 170km, 220kV high-voltage overhead line—is underway to strengthen the electrical grid and improve reliability across the Huila and Huambo Provinces, a project for which SRK completed the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).
Kavandren Moodley, principal environmental scientist at SRK Consulting, who led the Angolan ESIA, stressed the business criticality of early risk identification. For lender-funded infrastructure, ESIAs are essential for meeting national and international benchmarks, including the International Financial Corporation’s Performance Standards. Moodley argues that identifying potential environmental or social “fatal flaws” at the concept or pre-feasibility stage is paramount. Early detection allows developers to adjust project plans before significant financial resources are committed to detailed engineering, thereby preventing the costly delays and unplanned expenditure associated with late-stage redesigns. Funders are increasingly scrutinising risks relating to community vulnerability, indigenous peoples, and biodiversity, underscoring the commercial necessity for systematic impact assessments that actively inform the design and construction phases. This wave of powerline development promises to deliver a more stable power supply, which Kilian concludes will unlock both foreign and local investment, ultimately driving job creation and a more resilient, electrified future for Southern Africa.
