Moses Magadza in Luanda, Angola
A call has been made for SADC regional collaboration on energy and the development of the Inga dam hydro-electric project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Speaker of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, made the call when he spoke during a symposium at the start of the 55th Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum being hosted by the National Assembly of Angola in Luanda, from 1–7 July 2024.
The 55th Plenary of SADC PF is being held under the overarching theme “The role of Parliaments in promoting renewable energy policies in the SADC region and the creation of a single regional energy market”.
Advocate Mudenda said although several master plans have been crafted to mitigate the energy deficit in the region, the SADC energy landscape is characterized by an untapped rich tapestry of renewable energy resources which include hydropower generation, solar, wind and biomass with a huge global potential.
“Actual progress remains stunted despite the pressing demand for electricity in the region in the wake of regional industrialisation trajectory. Inexorably, this points to the need to improve the quantum of energy to meet the energy deficit,” he said.
Advocate Mudenda said the Inga Dam hydroelectric project offers a transformative opportunity for the SADC region to access this untapped abundant hydropower source which has an envisaged potential to generate over 42 000MW of electricity, that would adequately meet the energy needs of millions across the region and continentally.
“The procrastination on this colossal Inga Dam is the bane of our region and is unforgivable!” he said.
He argued that for SADC to realise the full benefits of renewable energy projects in the region, it requires courageous timely completion, effective implementation and long-term sustainability of renewable power generation projects.
He listed some of the power projects that need urgent completion including Caculo Cabaça hydropower project in Angola (2160MW); Batoka Hydro Project (2400MW), Devil’s Gorge(1200MW) – Zambia and Zimbabwe; Mphanda Nkuwa Hydropower Project in Mozambique (1500MW); and the Stiegler’s Gorge Hydropower project in Tanzania (2096MW).
He then turned to nuclear power which is increasingly emerging as a potential solution to the energy access and climate change challenges faced by SADC countries.
“Nuclear power offers a reliable, low-carbon alternative energy source that enhances energy security and environmental conservation sovereignty. Currently, nuclear energy accounts for 10% of electricity output worldwide, with Africa at 0.6% of that output,” he noted.
He added that strategic partnerships with international organizations and leading nuclear technology countries such as Russia, China and South Korea can facilitate access to advanced nuclear technology that can accelerate nuclear power generation in the SADC region, Hon Mudenda added.
He further explained that in promoting renewable energy, a stout feed-in-tariff (FIT) is key to attracting investments by providing a guaranteed above-market price for producers.
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“The concept has been a success in Europe, especially in countries such as Sweden, the United Kingdom, Poland and Germany. Similarly, the Asian Tigers, Japan and China implemented the feed-in tariff mechanisms resulting in enormous investments in the Renewable Energy sector,” he said.
The Speaker said to cement the regional cooperation in the renewable energy sector, the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) is the answer to coordinated power generation and intra energy country utilisation under a robust harmonised legal framework.
He recommended that as part of their role, SADC Parliaments must nudge the Executive to propagate comprehensive cutting-edge energy policy frameworks for rapid energy investments and development.
He added that Parliaments must leverage higher budget allocations towards renewable energy sector development.
“Through legislative diplomacy, Parliamentarians must facilitate regional cooperation, agreements and mechanisms to create a vibrant single regional energy market through harmonisation of energy policies and legal frameworks,” he said and called for ratification and domestication of SADC Protocols on energy.
These include SADC Protocols on Energy 1996, SADC Energy Activity Plan (2000), Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (2003), Regional Energy Access Strategy and Action Plan of 2010, SADC Regional Infrastructure, Development Master Plan and its Energy Sector Plan (2012), Revised RISDP (2015-2020), Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) and Agenda 2063.
“Parliaments, as accountability institutions, have a solemn responsibility to ensure that the policy and regulatory environment in our countries enables the speedy transition towards a clean, secure and affordable energy future for all our SADC citizens,” he stated.
