- Namibia and Angola sign joint development and power purchase agreements for the ANNA interconnector.
- US$52.3 million project to strengthen regional grid integration and energy security.
- Completion targeted for 2029 as part of SADC power market expansion.
Namibia and Angola have taken a significant step toward strengthening regional energy integration following the signing of key agreements to advance the Angola Namibia Power Interconnection Project known as ANNA.
State utility NamPower and Angola’s transmission operator Rede Nacional de Transporte de Electricidade have signed a Joint Development Agreement alongside a bilateral Power Purchase Agreement in Luanda on 14 April 2026. The agreements establish the technical institutional and commercial framework required to implement the project.
The Namibian government approved the ANNA project in February 2026 as a strategic infrastructure investment led by the Ministry of Industries Mines and Energy through NamPower. This followed the signing of an inter-governmental memorandum of understanding between Namibia and Angola to formalise cooperation on the project.
The development aligns with NamPower’s Integrated Strategy and Business Plan for 2026 to 2030 and supports the objectives of the National Integrated Resource Plan. Cabinet has also endorsed funding mobilisation through the National Energy Fund to cover Namibia’s share of capital costs, reinforcing its mandate to improve energy access and affordability.
The ANNA interconnector will involve the construction of a 166 km 400 kV transmission line linking the Kunene substation in Namibia to Cahama in Angola, with 30 km of the line located within Namibia. The project also includes feeder bays transformation infrastructure and a static var compensator at Kunene. In addition, a 270 km transmission line between Omatando and Otjikoto substations will be developed to support the interconnection.
The infrastructure is expected to establish a key transmission corridor between the two countries and enable Angola’s grid to connect to the Southern African Power Pool, positioning the country as an active operating member in the regional electricity market.
NamPower Managing Director Kahenge Haulofu said the agreements reflect a longstanding partnership between the two utilities and signal a shared commitment to regional integration energy security and sustainable economic development.
He noted that rising electricity demand across the Southern African region combined with supply constraints makes the project both timely and necessary. The ANNA interconnector will allow both countries to optimise and share energy resources more efficiently while supporting the evolving needs of the Southern African Power Pool.
The total project cost is estimated at N$941 million equivalent to US$52.3 million with commissioning scheduled for 2029.
