SADC power generation grows

Published: 03 August 2017

The improved performance of some power generating units coupled with additional capacity from some of the region's new built projects has resulted in a stable power supply system with a surplus not seen before, a senior SADC official says.

Addressing delegates at a SADC Industrialisation Week event held this week in South Africa, transport senior programme officer at the SADC secretariat Mapolao Mokoena said the region had an installed generation capacity of 59 539 MW and an operating capacity of 54 397 MW against a demand and reserve of 53 478 MW in the first quarter of the year.

"The economic downturn and stable operations led to low peak demand compared with 2015/16. Therefore, when taking into account the current peak demand and generation capacity reserve margins, the mainland member States have excess capacity of 919 MW," she said.

"SADC is now experiencing excess electricity capacity due to improved performance of some power units in the region as well as additional power supplies coming from new projects. We now have an excess of 919 MW in terms of power generation for the region."

SADC is aiming to add 30 646 MW of new electricity generation capacity by 2022 as the region ramps up efforts to implement its energy programme.

The region is on target to attain electricity self – sufficiency by 2022, according to latest Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) figures.

The regional energy body says SADC has realised the surplus five years ahead of the initial SAPP target.

Last year 4 180 MW was added to the power pool against a target of 3 757 MW, as new power projects were commissioned while older ones were rehabilitated.

This year alone, SAPP says mainland member states are planning to commission more than 7 000 MW of new generation capacity, in a move that SADC Today, a regional publication, says will further strengthen the region's energy security.

Interconnector projects between Mozambique and Malawi as well as another between Namibian and Angola were also expected to further boost the region's power capacity.

"We need to address lack of coordination at government level first to speed up the implementation of our region's energy projects," Mokoena said.

"We also need to come up with bankable projects that are attractive to investors and financiers."
- bh24

Tags: SADC,