President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has proposed creating a regional electricity transmission corridor linking Angola, Namibia and South Africa, arguing that stronger cross-border energy infrastructure is essential for industrialisation, regional integration and long-term economic growth across southern Africa.
Addressing the fourth Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission in Pretoria on Friday, Nandi-Ndaitwah proposed that ministers responsible for energy from the two countries be mandated to formalise a regional electricity transmission arrangement that would carry power generated in Angola through Namibia into South Africa.
She said reliable and interconnected energy infrastructure was indispensable for accelerating industrialisation, strengthening market integration and unlocking the productive potential of the region’s economies.
The proposal places Namibia at the centre of a regional electricity corridor that could strengthen power security for the Southern African Development Community while supporting expanding demand from mining, manufacturing and new industries linked to the energy transition.
It also aligns with broader regional efforts to improve energy connectivity as countries seek to reduce electricity shortages and build more resilient power systems.
Beyond electricity transmission, Nandi-Ndaitwah welcomed closer cooperation with South Africa in clean energy and nuclear energy.
However, she noted that Namibia was still developing the policy and legal framework needed to support a civilian nuclear energy programme.
She said that once the legislative framework was in place, Namibia would have a clearer path for cooperation in the sector.
The Namibian president also reaffirmed her government’s commitment to developing the country’s oil and gas industry despite increasing international focus on climate change.
She said Namibia recognised the importance of global climate action but stressed that countries were at different stages of development, making the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities an important guide for policymaking.
According to Nandi-Ndaitwah, that principle continues to shape Namibia’s approach to oil and gas development, allowing the country to pursue its offshore energy ambitions while remaining mindful of its responsibility to contribute to global efforts to address climate change. She added that closer cooperation between Namibia and South Africa in the sector would deliver benefits for both countries.
Her proposal complements South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for deeper regional cooperation around the Orange Basin, critical minerals, green hydrogen and downstream industrial development, with both leaders signalling that southern Africa’s future competitiveness will depend not only on its natural resources but also on the infrastructure needed to convert those resources into regional economic growth.
