WALVIS BAY – The Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, Willem Isaacks, has underscored the need to fast track all SADC power generation projects.
He said SADC countries should as a matter of urgency implement all incomplete power generation projects to meet the challenges b posed to the region’s electricity supply. Presently because of exponential growth SADC states that have not invested adequately in power are struggling to meet the high demand.
Isaacks was addressing delegates of the 41st Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) Executive Committee meeting that commenced yesterday in Walvis Bay. The three-day meeting is hosted under the theme “Energizing the Region by Expanding Generation and Transmission Capacities,” and its deliberations focus on electricity utilities in Southern Africa, power planning and developmental issues.
The deputy minister explained that a number of major power generation projects which have the potential to drive the region’s economy to greater heights through a guaranteed and secure supply of power supply, are still far from being realised.
“Many of the projects listed have been on the drawing board for much too long, as completion dates continue to be shifted further away. This is a matter of serious concern and requires urgent readdress. A lot needs to be done. Therefore you should collectively identify the bottlenecks and challenges that are blocking or derailing the completion of vital projects by finding common solutions to these challenges,” Isaacks explained.
According to him, the demand for power supply in SADC has been increasing by 2.5 per cent per year, while the regional capacity stands at 51 702 megawatts, which is against a suppressed demand of 59 411 megawatts. This gives a regional capacity shortfall of 7 709 megawatts.
He expressed concern over the inadequate power supply which could have a far-reaching impact on the region’s resolve to accelerate economic growth through increased foreign direct investment in mining, manufacturing, tourism and agriculture.
“The provision of adequate supply of electricity therefore remains crucial. It is therefore of utmost importance that all our utilities within the SAPP grouping re-double efforts to fast track all major generation and transmission projects. We should avoid the recurrence of the electricity shortfalls that we experienced in 2007 and 2008 as well as sporadic load-shedding that is still common within our region,” said the deputy minister.
He added that regional integration requires cooperation in all sectors inclusive of energy, which is central to the socio-economic development of respective countries and the region in general.
“Doing so means we should act beyond the confines of our nationalistic interests, and support each other, as this is the reason why we have created structures within SADC to promote the regional integration agenda. SAPP is such an entity that should facilitate the speedy attainment of regional integration in the energy sector,” said the deputy minister of mines and energy.
“Projects such as the Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia Transmission Project (Zizabona), Western Power Corridor (Westcor), and Tanzania/Zambia/Kenya Interconnector, Malawi/Mozambique Interconnectors as well as Central Transmission corridors are all initiatives of regional integration.”
By Eveline de Klerk