From August to September 2025, the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and GET.transform hosted a 2-week capacity-building workshop for the SAPP Planning Subcommittee. The training was led by MAI colleagues and marked the first of six training modules as part of the ongoing update of the SAPP Generation and Transmission Master Plan, designed to reflect major shifts in demand, technology, and climate resilience priorities.
The workshop introduced participants to the fundamentals of energy system modelling and configuration, covering power system planning concepts, economic drivers, integrated generation and transmission planning approaches, modelling tools, and base year configuration techniques. The sessions were designed to enhance technical capacity within member utilities and equip planners with the skills needed to support transparent and robust regional planning processes.
This collaboration between SAPP and GET.transform is made possible through ENGAGE-Engaging for Africa’s Green Energy Transition, a programme funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Through ENGAGE, SAPP receives technical assistance to improve regional energy planning, promote cross-border power trade, and accelerate the integration of renewable energy sources. This work at the regional level further drives progress at continental level for the African Continental Power Systems Master Plan (CMP).
Alongside the training, GET.transform attended the SAPP Annual General Meeting (AGM), participating in the Joint Subcommittee meeting to appraise the Planning Subcommittee on the evolution of the Master Plan update. The agenda zoomed in on the implementation milestones, ongoing activities, stakeholder validation and upcoming approaches.
Looking ahead, the next training modules will cover scenario building and comparison, sensitivity analysis and policy impacts, and is scheduled for 24-28 November 2025 in Johannesburg. These steps will ensure that SAPP member utilities are fully prepared to participate in the modelling and validation processes critical for the Master Plan update.
By combining practical training with structured stakeholder validation, the initiative is directly strengthening the foundations of the SAPP Generation and Transmission Master Plan, ensuring that it reflects both technical rigor and member utility input as Southern Africa becomes equipped for the next two decades of power sector development.