Southern Africa Urged to Boost Transmission Investment to End Load-Shedding

Increased investment in regional electricity transmission networks is essential to strengthen power connectivity and address persistent load-shedding across Southern Africa, Energy Minister Makozo Chikote has said.

Speaking at the 66th Management Committee Meeting of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), the Minister—represented by Permanent Secretary (Electricity) Arnold Simwaba—emphasised that enhanced transmission infrastructure would unlock cross-border electricity trade and improve power supply reliability across the region.

Chikote noted that while SAPP has facilitated regional electricity cooperation since 1995, there remains a pressing need to scale up investment in both generation and transmission capacity. He added that recent droughts have exposed the region’s vulnerability due to its heavy reliance on hydropower, highlighting the urgency of diversifying towards a more climate-resilient energy mix.

The Minister also underscored the importance of expanding regional power markets through key projects such as the Zambia–Tanzania Interconnector, which is expected to link Southern and Eastern African power pools and support the development of the African Single Electricity Market.

According to Chikote, the SAPP competitive market has shown strong growth, with matched electricity volumes reaching nearly 2,000 GWh this financial year, up from approximately 1,000 GWh last year. However, around 800 GWh of electricity remains constrained due to transmission bottlenecks, reinforcing the need for urgent network upgrades.

The meeting was held at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for strengthening regional power systems and accelerating energy integration.