Political economy of energy in southern Africa (GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report 1197)
A review of the available evidence on the political economy of energy in southern Africa
Abstract
Query
What is the available evidence on the political economy of energy in southern Africa? If possible, identify literature on: the political economy of power trading between southern African countries; regional institutions to facilitate power trading (e.g. Southern Africa Power Pool); and constraints to attracting private finance into regional power infrastructure.
Summary
Some African states, with encouragement from international donors, have developed regional power sharing arrangements as a strategy to deal with the continent’s energy problems. Power pools aim to balance electrical loads over a larger network, lower electricity prices, and expand access by encouraging trade and investment in the sector.
The Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) is the southern African regional electricity grid that allows for regional power sharing. It is comprised of Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) takes a leading role in the SAPP, coordinating activities among different national electricity companies and facilitating a shared electricity grid and market. Though considered one of the most advanced power pools in Africa, trade among countries in the region remains fairly limited. South Africa is the dominant player both in producing and exporting electrical energy. Some of the key challenges identified in the literature concerning power sharing arrangements include:
- Overcoming differences in the capacity and needs of different member states;
- Lack of infrastructure and maintenance which constrains both transmission congestion within transit countries, and at interconnection level between countries;
- Human resource capacity, including the impact of HIV/AIDS, is a regional problem and has had an impact on the operation of member utilities.
Citation
Hinds, R. Political economy of energy in southern Africa (GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report 1197). Governance and Social Development Resource Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (2015) 9 pp.
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