Multinational - Baynes Hydro Power Project 400 KV Transmission

The proposed operation concerns a grant not exceeding US$ 1,568,600 to Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) on behalf of the national power utilities, RNT and NamPower for the purpose of conducting the pre-investment techno-economic studies of the Baynes Hydro Power 400 kV Transmission Lines Project. The Baynes Hydro-Power Plant (HPP) on the Kunene (Cunene) River between Namibia and Angola will have an installed capacity of 600 MW, with 300 MW allocated to Namibia and 300 MW allocated to Angola. The project directly integrates into the Angola – Namibia (ANNA) regional interconnector project, interconnecting Angola to the SAPP. This will be a green-field project. Technical studies for the transmission lines and associated substations are essential for the evacuation of power from the Baynes HPP which has Feasibility Studies that are almost complete. Strategically, the implementation and realisation of the project will promote regional cooperation for development and optimal utilisation of energy resources within the sub-region. Further, specifically in this case, this regional project will influence the implementation of the least-cost projects and coordination of this regional investment will involve significant savings in NPV terms for the region. The project will help deliver both physical (Interconnector and associated hardware) and institutional (agreements, rules, harmonized grid-codes, processes, skills, power trade, etc.) infrastructure. The total implementation period is estimated to Twenty-four months (24) from approval comprising eighteen (18) months for conducting the studies, holding validation workshops and compiling reports preceded by six (6) months for the procurement process including negotiation and contract award.