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The SAPP, or Southern
African Power Pool, is the first formal international
power pool in Africa. It was created with the primary aim of
providing reliable and economical electricity supply to the
consumers of each of the SAPP members, consistent with the reasonable
utilisation of natural resources and the effect on the environment.
SAPP has made it possible for members to delay capital expenditure
on new plants due to the existence of interconnections and a
power pool in the region. This is an important aspect in developing
the economies of southern Africa.
The objectives of the SAPP are to:
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Co-ordinate
and co-operate in the planning and operation of electricity
power systems to minimise costs, while maintaining reliability,
autonomy and self-sufficiency; |
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Increase
interconnectivity between SADC countries to increase the
reliability of power supplies; |
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Harmonise
relationships between member utilities and facilitation
of cross-border electricity trading; |
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Provide
a forum for the development of a world-class, robust,
safe, efficient, reliable and stable interconnected electrical
system in the southern African region; |
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Co-ordinate
and enforce common regional standards of quality of supply,
measurement and monitoring of systems performance; |
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Facilitate
the development of regional expertise through training
programmes and research; |
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Increase
power accessibility in rural communities; |
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Implement
strategies in support of sustainable development priorities;
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Recover
costs of operations and equitably share benefits, including
reductions in generating capacity and fuel costs, and
improving use of hydroelectric energy. |
The SAPP faces major challenges such as:
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Lack
of infrastucture to deliver electricity; |
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Lack
of maintenance of infrastructure; |
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Limited
funds fo finance new investments; |
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Insufficient
generation - running out of excess capacity by 2007; and
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High
losses. |
It is now possible for SAPP members to delay capital expenditure on new plants due to the existence of interconnections and a power pool in the region. This is an important aspect in developing the economies of southern Africa.
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