In a bid to improve connectivity within the SADC region, the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) says it plans to construct a power transmission line between South Africa and Botswana. The said power line will boost connectivity and electricity trading between South Africa and Botswana as well as the entire region.
The transmission interconnector project will be named ‘BOSA’ and the Southern African Power Pool Coordination Centre will oversee its operation. SAPP stated, on behalf of Eskom (South Africa) and Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) of Botswana, that it is inviting proposals from consulting firms to provide transaction advisory services and project scoping for the proposed transmission interconnector project between the two neighbors.
In the invitation, SAPP said: “Carry out Detailed Feasibility Studies on the Transmission Project, and Development of a Project Information Memorandum to Engineering Procurement and Construction and prepare the Project to Financial Closure.”
The transmission line project is being funded by Eskom and BPC.
SAPP also revealed that it intends to construct another transmission line dubbed the Mozambique-Zimbabwe-South Africa (MoZiSa) Transmission Project. The project is being bankrolled by the respective utilities of the three countries, namely Electricicade de Moçambique (EDM), Eskom and ZESA Holdings (Zimbabwe). All the power utilities in inland Southern African Development Community (SADC) are interconnected through the SAPP, allowing them to sell electricity to one another through a competitive market.
