Angolan and Namibian ministers met in Luanda on 16 October to prepare the start of construction of the Baynes hydropower dam on the Cunene River. A project unit and its financial advisers have drafted a funding strategy for both governments to consider; the African Development Bank and the Southern African Power Pool back the project. Namibia’s cabinet chose public funding in July 2024 and approved an implementation agreement with Angola that November, putting the cost at $1.3 billion; Angola’s state news agency now cites about $1.5 billion for the 860-megawatt plant, excluding power lines. The dam would give import-dependent Namibia a large new source of supply. No financing package or construction date has been set.
Sources
- Mining & Energy (Namibia): https://miningandenergy.com.na/namibia-angola-push-to-begin-construction-of-baynes-hydropower-project/
- ANGOP (via allAfrica): https://fr.allafrica.com/stories/202610160614.html
- The Brief (Namibia): https://thebrief.com.na/?p=13501
- Republikein: https://www.republikein.com.na/mw-main/namibia-approves-baynes-implementation-plan2024-11-15140718