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SAPP: Installed Capacity, Generation, Power Exchange [free access]

The Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) was created in 1995 and was the first formal international power pool in Africa. Under it, the national electricity companies in southern Africa cooperate with the support of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). SAPP provides a forum for regional solutions to electric energy problems.  

Currently, SAPP comprises 12 southern African countries — Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These member countries are working to promote power pooling and trade in electricity to help provide reliable and economical power to their consumers.

By the end of March 2021 (FY2020-21), SAPP countries had a total installed capacity of 80,914 MW. The installed capacity has increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.73 per cent from 61,292 MW in FY2014-15. Of the total capacity, 62 per cent was coal-based; 21 per cent was hydro-based; nearly 7 per cent was based on renewables; 3 per cent was nuclear-based; and the rest comprised distillate.

South Africa was among the first member countries to add renewable sources to its generation mix in 2015.

During FY2020-21, South Africa had the maximum share (74.5 per cent) in the total capacity, while Eswatini and Lesotho had negligible shares. During the period, Angola registered the highest growth in installed capacity—a 14.98 per cent CAGR—from 2,028 MW in 2014-15 to 5,878 MW in 2020-21.

Overall, SAPP countries generated 3,07,843 GWh of electricity in 2020-21, representing a CAGR of 1.5 per cent from 2,76,956 in FY2014-15. South Africa accounted for nearly 75 per cent of the region’s total electricity generation in 2017-18.

In terms of electricity trade, Namibia imported the maximum amount of electricity at 1,756 GWh and South Africa exported the maximum amount of electricity at 4,909 GWh during the year 2020-21. Over the period, Mozambique’s power imports reduced significantly from 1,004 GWh in 2014-15 to 68 GWh in 2020-21.

Table 1: Growth in SAPP's installed capacity, generation and power exchange

Source: Southern African Power Pool (SAPP); Global Transmission Research

Figure 1: Change in installed capacity generation mix (%) 

Note: CCGT: combined cycle gas turbine; OCGT: open-cycle gas turbine; CSP: concentrated solar power; PV: photovoltaic

Source: Southern African Power Pool (SAPP); Global Transmission Research