Power without borders is changing the game.

The Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) stands at a defining crossroads. Now, 30 years on, it's no longer just a technical framework for balancing national grids. It has matured into a structural lever for regional integration, energy security, and economic competitiveness.

- By Kofi Amparbeng and Tokollo Tau, Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking

Despite the region's wealth of resources, over 60% of its population still lacks reliable access to electricity. This statistic alone is a powerful motivation for change. From Zambia's hydropower to Namibia's solar, southern Africa has ample potential. However, the value remains stranded without a reliable infrastructure to transmit and trade that energy.

Consider the Malawi-Mozambique and Zambia-Tanzania interconnectors. These aren't just construction projects but markers of trust, ambition, and political will. Yet infrastructure alone isn’t enough. Power trade needs coherent policy, market transparency, and tools to contain sovereign risk.

That's where the $1.3 billion Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF) enters the picture. Backed by Climate Fund Managers and SAPP, RTIFF reflects the appetite for blended capital platforms that match private risk with public goals. It shows what's possible when long-term financing meets cross-border infrastructure.

IPPs need regional markets, not just sovereign contracts.