The Southern African Development Community has called for the accelerated conclusion of financing negotiations for the Angolan section of the Angola–Namibia Power Interconnector, a major cross-border electricity project aimed at strengthening regional energy security.

The appeal was made by SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi during high-level discussions with World Bank officials in Washington on the sidelines of the just concluded WB/IMF annual Spring Meetings

Magosi emphasized the strategic importance of regional power connectivity for industrialization and economic integration across Southern Africa.

The planned infrastructure includes a 166-km, 440kV transmission line linking the Kunene substation in Namibia to Cahama in Angola.

According to SADC spokesperson Barbara Lopi, Magosi urged the swift completion of Phase-3 financing for the Angolan segment and also called for continued dialogue on future expansion, including the proposed Malawi–Zambia Transmission Interconnector.

The project is considered central to SADC’s broader industrialization agenda, with officials highlighting its role in improving electricity trade, reducing supply constraints, and strengthening resilience across the regional grid.

By enabling cross-border power flows, the interconnector is expected to support more efficient use of generation capacity and improve energy access for member states.

The World Bank has already committed $292 million under Phase One of the RETRADE Program to support the Zambian section of the Zambia–Tanzania Interconnector. In addition, $12 million in technical assistance has been allocated to regional energy institutions, including the Southern African Power Pool and the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.

These investments are part of a broader effort to enhance regional power pooling, expand renewable energy integration, and strengthen institutional coordination within Southern Africa’s electricity market.

The Angola–Namibia Interconnector is seen as a key pillar in advancing regional integration, enabling more stable electricity supply, and supporting long-term economic development across the SADC