The first-ever Southern African Development Community (SADC) Sustainable Energy Week has officially launched in Gaborone, Botswana, on February 24, 2025. The event, under the theme “Accelerating Sustainable Energy Solutions for an Energy-Secure SADC Region,” aims to tackle the region’s pressing energy challenges and promote regional integration through energy security.
SADC Executive Secretary, His Excellency Mr. Elias M. Magosi, expressed appreciation to the Government of Botswana for hosting the event, which is organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Minerals and Energy, the SADC Secretariat, and the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE). He acknowledged the leadership of President Duma Gideon Boko, who officiated the opening ceremony, and the commitment of Botswana to energy security in the region.
The inaugural Sustainable Energy Week marks the beginning of an annual series, which was postponed in 2024. The event brings together government officials, energy ministers, and international partners to discuss solutions for energy access and security, essential drivers of regional economic growth. Sessions include high-level presentations, panel discussions, business-to-business meetings, and networking opportunities, all centered around renewable energy technologies, policy frameworks, and investment avenues for a sustainable energy future.
Magosi highlighted the urgency of addressing the region’s energy shortages, which are exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure and the effects of climate change. While coal remains the dominant energy source in the region, accounting for 60% of electricity generation, the contribution of renewable energy is still low, at around 10%. The region’s vulnerability to power deficits and extreme weather conditions, particularly droughts, continues to undermine efforts to ensure a stable and secure energy supply.
To tackle these challenges, SADC is prioritizing cross-border energy infrastructure projects. Interconnecting countries such as Angola, Malawi, and Tanzania to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) will facilitate power trading and help reduce energy deficits in countries with limited supply.
Magosi also addressed the need to improve electricity access in Sub-Saharan Africa, where approximately 600 million people lack electricity. SADC member states represent nearly 172 million of this total. He called for innovative financing mechanisms and off-grid solutions, like solar mini-grids, to provide electricity to rural and underserved communities.
The SADC Executive Secretary emphasized that energy infrastructure projects require significant financial resources and urged member states and cooperating partners to support priority initiatives outlined in the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan. He also called for the operationalization of the SADC Regional Development Fund, designed to mobilize funding for regional infrastructure, including energy projects.
SADC is also advancing efforts to improve energy security and promote sustainable energy practices through strategic frameworks, including the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Strategy and the Regional Energy Access Strategy. These initiatives are designed to increase renewable energy adoption and boost energy access across the region.
