Regarding the northern sector, Eskom's discussions with its Egyptian counterpart have revealed that Egypt is seeking ways to play the same role as a co-ordinator and promoter of the grid in the north as Eskom is doing in the south. It also sees itself as a logical gateway for wheeling power through to the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Other possibilities include a route via West Africa into Europe through Spain or Italy. In short, the concept of an interconnected grid for the exchange of electricity is accepted and endorsed by all the African countries, especially SADC member countries. The grid exists, albeit tenuously, throughout much of southern Africa, but the lines and substations need considerable upgrading and strengthening.
Construction projects are under way, but many remain to be tackled.
Countries committed to joining the grid are Angola, Congo Republic, Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania. The projects I outlined earlier, together with the concept of the Grid suggested here, will provide an extremely powerful instrument to boost development in southern Africa with impacts far beyond our own region. Electricity is essential for significant economic growth. As electricity suppliers in the Southern African Grid, we must be businesslike, efficient and profitable to survive in this era of globalisation. When multinational organisations investigate possible sites for a new plant, they always have a list of very specific criteria against which to test the possibilities.