World Bank backs Sapp with $12 million for power project
The World Bank greenlit $12 million in funding to expand electricity trading across southern Africa through technical assistance to the Southern African Power Pool. The International Development Association will provide $10 million, while the Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme contributes $2 million for the Retrade Sapp initiative.
World Bank vice president Ndiamé Diop for eastern and southern Africa emphasized that connecting regional transmission networks remains essential for enhancing power reliability and cost effectiveness throughout the continent. The funding aims to attract private investment in transmission infrastructure and increase cross-border energy commerce among the 12 member nations, which include Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Steve Dihwa, who leads the coordination center, noted that despite plentiful energy resources, member countries continue struggling to deliver accessible and sustainable electricity. The project advances the Africa Single Electricity Market vision and supports Mission 300, targeting connections for 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
