Southern African Development Community

New 400 kV transmission facilities in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia creating an alternative power corridor in SAPP. Initial operation at 330kV targeting 300 MW transfer, upgradeable to 600 MW at 400kV. Decongests existing central corridor. AfDB procured consultancy to update feasibility and ESIA studies January 2024. ESIA complete in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe; Zambia ESIA by SWECO ongoing. Fichtner (Germany) provides transaction/technical advisory; PhD Capital (South Africa) provides project coordination. Four national utilities: NamPower, ZESA, ZESCO, BPC — each 20% equity in SPV incorporated in Namibia. Development banks interested: DBSA (USD 50M pledged), AFD (USD 30-50M pledged), AfDB (40% of debt financing committed).

Cascade of 5-7 hydropower plants on the Luapula River (Zambia-DRC border) with combined capacity of 800-1,000 MW. Run-of-river configurations to minimise environmental impact. Implementation by ZESCO (Zambia) and SNEL (DRC). Annual energy production 4,800-6,000 GWh.

Feasibility studies for HVDC transmission scheme delivering 5,000 MW from DRC to South Africa through Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. ~3,000 km HVDC. This project is directly linked to and dependent on the Inga 3 Hydropower Project (E.30.16). World Bank Board approved USD 250 million on June 3 2025 as the first phase of a USD 1 billion multiphase Inga 3 Development Programme. This first phase covers preparatory work — local development, technical studies, governance framework, and community consultations — NOT transmission construction. World Bank Division Director Albert Zeufack confirmed: electricity from Inga 3 is at best 8-10 years away. Construction to be financed as PPP. Transit country agreements required across Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa. ADPI-DRC (head: Bob Mabiala) managing the overall Inga programme. GE signed USD 1B deal 2024 to rehabilitate existing Inga I and Inga II dams.

Binational Angola-Namibia hydropower on Kunene River, situated 185 km downstream of Ruacana. CAPACITY UPDATED: 881 MW (increased from original 600 MW estimate; confirmed NamPower Chief Commercial Officer Fritz Jacobs, August 2025). Main Dam: 860 MW Francis Turbines; Regulating Dam: 21 MW S-type Kaplan. 50:50 Angola-Namibia split (440.5 MW each). Implementation Agreement signed and approved by both Angola and Namibia cabinets. July 8 2025: AfDB SEFA approved USD 800,000 preparatory grant for FEED and ESIA studies — advancing toward bankability and procurement readiness. EIA for regulating dam commissioned Q2 2025–Q2 2026. Road and grid access studies approved. PJTC and Baynes PIU coordinate implementation. NamPower (Namibia) and RNT (Angola) are implementing utilities. PJTC Co-Chairman Namibia: Simeon Negumbo (Executive Director of Energy). Next step: Award EPC contract and mobilise construction financing.

New 400 kV transmission facilities in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia creating an alternative power corridor in SAPP. Initial operation at 330kV targeting 300 MW transfer, upgradeable to 600 MW at 400kV. Decongests existing central corridor. AfDB procured consultancy to update feasibility and ESIA studies January 2024. ESIA complete in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe; Zambia ESIA by SWECO ongoing. Fichtner (Germany) provides transaction/technical advisory; PhD Capital (South Africa) provides project coordination. Four national utilities: NamPower, ZESA, ZESCO, BPC — each 20% equity in SPV incorporated in Namibia. Development banks interested: DBSA (USD 50M pledged), AFD (USD 30-50M pledged), AfDB (40% of debt financing committed).

Strategic ICT infrastructure project to develop a Tier III certified, carrier-neutral data centre serving as the primary regional digital hub for the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The facility will host the SADC Regional Internet Exchange Point (IXP), ICANN Root Server Instances, and cloud services infrastructure. Tier III certification guarantees 99.982% uptime with maximum 1.6 hours downtime annually, N+1 fault tolerant systems, and 72-hour power protection. Designed as a public-private partnership (PPP). Objectives include improving data sovereignty, reducing latency, and lowering internet access costs across SADC. The Digital Investment Facility (DIF) is conducting a comprehensive feasibility, market, and regulatory study. Total facility investment estimated at USD 10 million.

Cascade of 5-7 hydropower plants on the Luapula River (Zambia-DRC border) with combined capacity of 800-1,000 MW. Run-of-river configurations to minimise environmental impact. Implementation by ZESCO (Zambia) and SNEL (DRC). Annual energy production 4,800-6,000 GWh.

Feasibility studies for HVDC transmission scheme delivering 5,000 MW from DRC to South Africa through Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. ~3,000 km HVDC. This project is directly linked to and dependent on the Inga 3 Hydropower Project (E.30.16). World Bank Board approved USD 250 million on June 3 2025 as the first phase of a USD 1 billion multiphase Inga 3 Development Programme. This first phase covers preparatory work — local development, technical studies, governance framework, and community consultations — NOT transmission construction. World Bank Division Director Albert Zeufack confirmed: electricity from Inga 3 is at best 8-10 years away. Construction to be financed as PPP. Transit country agreements required across Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa. ADPI-DRC (head: Bob Mabiala) managing the overall Inga programme. GE signed USD 1B deal 2024 to rehabilitate existing Inga I and Inga II dams.

Extension of the Tanzania National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) southward to connect with Mozambique, enabling access to the EASS and SEACOM submarine cables landed in both countries and creating resilience in international connectivity. The project uses Single Mode Optical Fiber type G652D with OTN over DWDM transmission technology. It also encompasses the extension of the NICTBB westward across Lake Tanganyika to Kalemie in DRC (see I.02.30.10 for the separate DRC component). Tanzania has approved the tender document and construction preparations are advancing. Total project investment estimated at USD 60 million.

Construction of a submarine optical fiber cable across Lake Tanganyika connecting Kigoma (Tanzania) to Kalemie (DRC), extending the Tanzania National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) into the Democratic Republic of Congo. The cable is approximately 186 km in length, deployed at lake depths reaching up to 1,470 metres, using G652D standard optical fiber with OTN over DWDM overlay. The project enhances EAC and ECCAS digital infrastructure integration and facilitates direct fiber-optic communication between the two countries. Tanzania is progressing with its side of the implementation. DRC side faces cross-border coordination challenges.