By: Paul Miller
The SAPP covers SA, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Angola and was established back in 1995.
The purpose of the SAPP was to create a common electrical grid and a common electrical market for the region.
All the countries of the SAPP have significantly reformed and restructured their electrical markets in the last 26 or so years - and most countries have improved their transmission and distribution systems and introduced Independent Power Producers into the generating mix.
The trading of electricity between those members already connected to the common grid is now commonplace. Plans are in place to connect the remaining three isolated countries of Malawi, Tanzania and Angola.
AmaranthCX received many queries for more information on new generating projects from the users of its mining focused maps. The Southern African Power Pool: January 2022 map is the result.
The map includes -
775 important electrical substations - with over 90% named
108 hydroelectric and pumped storage plants
76 solar PV farms
40 wind farms
85 fossil fuel and biomas thermal power stations
6 concentrated solar plants
and 1 each of nuclear and hybrid power plants
All linked together by 1 159 major existing and proposed transmission and relevant distribution lines (stylised) across the member countries of the SAPP.
Each power plant icon includes additional information and, where available, a link to the plant operator's website.
Numerous "in development", abandoned and decommissioned power generating facilities are also mapped.
The map is now available for purchase from the AmaranthCX online shop, here.