Namibia to Participate in SADC’s Sustainable Energy Push
Namibia is reinforcing its commitment to a greener future by actively participating in the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) regional strategy for sustainable energy. Senior representatives from the country joined regional leaders at the 2026 SADC Sustainable Energy Week (SEW), held from February 23-27 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, to advance commitments on clean energy deployment, energy access, and regional integration.
A United Front for a Namibia Sustainable Energy Future
Hosted by Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Energy and Power Development in partnership with the SADC Secretariat, the event centered on the theme, “Driving Regional Economic Growth Through Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency.” The week-long gathering brought together energy ministers, regulators, development partners, and key stakeholders from across the SADC region to collaborate on building a secure, equitable, and sustainable energy landscape.
In his remarks, SADC Executive Secretary Elias M. Magosi highlighted the significant progress made since the inaugural event in 2025, noting that 11 of the 16 member states had completed their National Energy Compacts by January 2026. These compacts are crucial for outlining each country’s path toward achieving clean energy goals.
Namibia’s Strategic Role in Regional Energy Integration
Namibia’s participation was central to discussions on enhancing regional power infrastructure. A key project highlighted during the event was the Angola-Namibia interconnector. This priority initiative, which has now reached the financial structuring stage, is designed to link Angola to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) network through Namibia. Once completed, this interconnector will significantly boost regional power trading and improve energy stability across member states.
Namibian representatives contributed to high-level sessions and shared the nation’s progress on its energy transition plans, aligning its national strategy with broader regional objectives.
Key Commitments and the Road Ahead
The event concluded with a renewed and unified commitment from all participating SADC member states. The key outcomes and priorities that Namibia will help drive forward include:
- Universal Electricity Access: A collective push to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030, with a strong focus on deploying mini-grids and solar power solutions.
- Harmonized Regulations: Creating a more consistent regulatory environment to attract private sector investment in the renewable energy sector.
- Infrastructure Development: Fast-tracking critical cross-border projects like the Angola-Namibia and Malawi-Mozambique interconnectors.
- Diversified Energy Mix: Moving away from the region’s heavy reliance on coal (currently 59% of generation) by promoting green hydrogen and other renewable sources.
- Inclusivity: Ensuring women and youth are actively included in the burgeoning renewables sector.
While acknowledging challenges such as existing power shortages, Secretary Magosi urged member states to scale up investments and ratify key agreements to ensure no country is left behind. The updated SAPP Generation and Transmission Master Plan (2026-2040) will serve as a guiding document for this ambitious transition.
Namibia’s active involvement in the SADC Sustainable Energy Week demonstrates a clear commitment not only to its own energy security but also to the collective strength and prosperity of the entire Southern African region. By championing critical infrastructure and collaborative policy, Namibia is positioning itself as a key player in Africa’s clean energy revolution.
