Beyond 38 Years: SADC Sets Ambitious New Energy Agenda

Southern African Power Pool 38th Anniversary: SADC Executive Secretary Harare, Zimbabwe – In a candid and insightful address at the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) 38th Anniversary Dinner, H.E. Magosi, Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), underscored the critical role of energy in regional integration and development. Though speaking off-the-cuff, his remarks highlighted key priorities for the SADC region, emphasizing both immediate needs and long-term strategies for energy security.Magosi passionately asserted that energy, alongside water, has become a fundamental human right.

He recounted a pivotal conversation between President Ramaphosa of South Africa and President Tshisekedi, where the latter confidently declared his country’s abundance of water and power, and its capacity to generate even more. This anecdote served to illustrate the immense potential within the SADC region for energy self-sufficiency and even export. The Executive Secretary stressed the urgent need to diversify and significantly increase power generation within SADC.

He acknowledged SAPP’s commendable 38 years of service but emphasized that more is needed to meet the region’s growing demands. While advocating for clean energy sources, Magosi made a notable statement regarding coal, declaring it a SADC resource that must be exploited. He acknowledged the controversial nature of this stance but firmly stated that coal, like water, is an abundant resource in the region that can contribute to energy security.

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SADC’s commitment to infrastructure development, with energy as a central pillar, is well-documented. The SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP) outlines ambitious targets for seamless, cost-effective trans-boundary infrastructure, including energy, by 2027. This aligns with Magosi’s call for robust investments in power generation, transmission, and diversification into renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Magosi’s speech serves as a clear call to action for SADC member states to unlock their full energy potential, utilizing all available resources to drive industrialization, economic growth, and ultimately, improve the lives of their citizens.

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