Southern African States Seek Deeper Cooperation with China on Green Energy Transition
Leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have expressed strong interest in expanding collaboration with China to accelerate the region’s shift toward clean energy and sustainable power systems.
The comments emerged at the closing session of the SADC Sustainable Energy Week in Zimbabwe, where regional officials highlighted the urgent need to diversify energy supplies and reduce dependence on coal‑fired generation. Less than 60 percent of the SADC population currently has access to electricity, and energy access remains a bottleneck for economic growth and industrialization in many member states.
“SADC countries need to pursue a broader energy mix with larger shares of renewable sources to improve energy security and sustainability,” Elias Magosi, the SADC Executive Secretary, told Xinhua. He noted that China’s experience with large‑scale deployment of clean technologies — alongside investment in infrastructure and know‑how — offers relevant models that could benefit Southern Africa’s energy transition.
Regional energy officials underscored the role of solar, hydro and wind power, as well as efficiency improvements, in addressing chronic power constraints. Kuda Kwashure Ndhlukula, executive director of the SADC Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Center, said Chinese‑manufactured equipment and technology have already proven “cost‑effective and technically robust” in some African markets.
N’Ando Julius Ralithera, Madagascar’s Minister of Energy and Hydrocarbon Fuels, highlighted his country’s interest in deepening cooperation, saying Chinese clean‑energy solutions could help Madagascar accelerate rural electrification and improve industrial competitiveness.
SADC — a 16‑member regional bloc that includes South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe — aims to strengthen regional trade and investment integration, with energy sector transformation viewed as foundational to broader economic development.
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