Luanda: Angolan Minister of Energy and Water Joo Baptista Borges on Friday highlighted the importance of energy integration as a fundamental pillar for the common prosperity and economic security of Southern Africa. The minister made the statement following the agreement for electrical interconnection between Angola and Namibia, signed on Tuesday in Luanda, which is expected to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the official pointed to regional integration as essential for economic growth and the creation of new investment opportunities. Joo Baptista Borges stressed that the agreement transcends the technical aspect, representing a strategic partnership based on political trust.
He explained that the project is aligned with Angola's electricity sector expansion plan, which aims not only at self-sufficiency but also at positioning the country as a relevant supplier in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) energy market. The minister said the project represents a historic milestone in regional energy integration and the deepening of strategic relations between Angola and Namibia.
The memorandum is part of the development vision of the two States and was signed between the Angolan National Transport Network (RNT) and Namibia's Nam Power. It focuses on the development of robust infrastructure in the Angolan province of Cunene, with emphasis on the construction of a 400 kV interconnector, the installation of approximately 160 kilometers of transmission line, the expansion of the Cahama substation, as well as the construction of logistical and operational support infrastructure.
With this interconnection, it is expected that up to 500 megawatts (MW) of electricity will be exported, which should ensure greater stability in the energy supply in the cross-border region. The signing ceremony was attended by the Angolan Minister of Energy and Water, Joo Baptista Borges, and the Namibian representative for Industry, Mines and Energy, Modestus Tshitumbu Amutse.
