Botswana is part of the 12 Southern African countries under the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) set to benefit from the World Bank’s approved $12 Million Technical Assistance to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) project, known as RETRADE SAPP, to strengthen and expand the regional electricity market across Southern Africa.
The initiative aims to attract private investment in power transmission and deepen regional electricity trading, paving the way for more affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy across member states.
The project, valued at US$12 million, will provide critical technical assistance to the Southern African Power Pool and regional institutions including the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Regional Energy Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RERA), and the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE).
According to a press release from the World Bank, the funding includes a US$10 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) and a US$2 million grant from the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP).
The RETRADE SAPP initiative marks Phase 2 of the Regional Energy Transmission, Trade and Decarbonization Project in Southern Africa Multi-Phase Programmatic Approach (RETRADE-SA MPA). It will help advance preparations for major interconnector projects financed by the World Bank, enhancing cross-border electricity flows and regional energy security.
“The expansion and integration of regional transmission networks is critical to improve the reliability and affordability of electricity in Africa,” said Ndiamé Diop, World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa. “This project will help strengthen cross-border power trade and private investment in energy, contributing to the region’s economic growth, diversification and job-creation.”
By improving energy connectivity and market efficiency, the project is expected to encourage private sector participation, boost industrial growth, and create new employment opportunities across the SAPP region.
Aligned with the African Union’s Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan, the RETRADE SAPP project contributes to the long-term goal of establishing the Africa Single Electricity Market (AfSEM).
According to the World bank, it also supports Mission 300, an initiative targeting the connection of 300 million people to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
By promoting regional power integration and renewable energy use, the project is seen as a key step toward achieving universal access to sustainable energy.
Welcoming the World Bank’s support, Steve Dihwa, Executive Director of the SAPP Coordination Centre, said the project represents a major milestone for the region’s power sector.
“Our region is endowed with abundant energy resources, yet many member countries still face persistent challenges in expanding electricity access in an affordable, reliable, and sustainable manner,” said Dihwa. “This technical assistance will accelerate support to our members in delivering urgently needed, high-quality and resilient energy infrastructure, while fostering a supportive environment for increased private-sector investment and cross-border electricity trading.”
The Southern African Power Pool brings together 12 continental member countries of the SADC Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Through projects such as RETRADE SAPP, the region is taking decisive steps toward integrating its power systems, leveraging renewable energy resources, and building a more resilient, connected energy future for Southern Africa.
