Namibia-Angola connection

Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse was in Luanda, Angola, on 9 March 2026, where he was welcomed by his counterpart, the Angolan Minister of Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges.

According to Angolan media, including ongoma.info, jornaldeangola.ao, verangola.net and southafricatoday.net, discussions focused on energy cooperation projects between the neighbouring countries, particularly electricity interconnection.

A statement from the Angolan energy and water ministry reportedly said that the meeting, which also included the Angolan secretary of state for energy, Arlindo Carlos, formed part of “strengthening bilateral cooperation between Angola and Namibia in the energy sector and also served for the formal presentation of the Namibian official to Minister João Baptista Borges, following his recent appointment to the post”.

“During the meeting, the delegations analysed the state of implementation of energy cooperation projects between the two countries, with particular emphasis on the Angola–Namibia electricity interconnection process, including the power purchase agreement that should frame the future commercialisation of electricity between the two nations,” the statement reads, according to verangola.net.

The news site adds that, according to the Angolan ministry, the interconnection project “envisages connecting the two electricity systems, constituting an important step towards strengthening regional energy integration and ensuring the security of energy supply”.

Amutse told NMH yesterday that negotiations, including those related to the ambitious joint Baynes hydropower development and the ANNA (Angola–Namibia Transmission Interconnector) project for a 400 kV cross-border power line connecting the Kunene substation with Lubango in Angola, have been ongoing for some time.

“The two countries are trying to facilitate the developments and negotiations are ongoing. We will inform the people once we reach the final stage,” he said.

“There has been good progress on both sides,” Amutse added. “We are hopeful for the conclusion of negotiations before the end of this year.”

Although he could not indicate when this might happen, Amutse said both he and his counterpart are satisfied with the progress being made and that soon, “hopefully we will see these projects producing for us and for SADC (the Southern African Development Community)”.

Angola is not currently connected to the Southern African Power Pool, through which Namibia imports electricity to meet local demand, but has also exported solar-generated electricity since December 2025.

In recent years, Lubango has been connected to the Angolan national electricity grid through the 400 kV Huambo–Lubango Backbone Transmission Investment Project. Infrastructure upgrades there include the construction of a new 400/220/60 kV substation in Lubango and a new Lubango–Cahama 400 kV transmission line.

Angola’s electricity grid is hampered by a significant disparity between the heavily developed northern region and the relatively energy-deprived southern and central regions. However, major projects are underway to link these systems, according to public reports by the African Development Bank Group and theenergyyear.com, among others.