Under the stewardship of Minister João Baptista Borges, the Angola–Namibia Baynes project advances as a balanced, binational hydropower scheme on the Lower Kunene—linking generation, transmission and safeguards to deliver reliable, affordable power.
Baynes Hydropower is moving from studies and preparatory work into a phase of measured momentum on the Lower Kunene River, where Angola and Namibia have converged on a shared objective: convert a long-planned site into firm, low-carbon generation that strengthens both countries’ grids. Guided on the Angolan side by Minister João Baptista Borges, the approach is deliberately pragmatic—aligning engineering, finance and safeguards so that every step taken is bankable, buildable and socially responsible.
The project’s binational design is its defining feature. Power output is planned to be shared across the two systems, supported by coordinated transmission so electricity can flow where it is most needed. For Angola, Baynes complements large domestic hydro by adding reliable baseload that reduces exposure to thermal peakers and hydrological swings, while creating options to trade within the region as interconnections mature.
Delivery is being staged to manage risk. First comes technical definition—layout, turbines, spillway and geotechnical confidence—followed by environmental and social actions that go beyond compliance: early community engagement, livelihood support where required, and transparent grievance mechanisms. Minister João Baptista Borges has insisted that procurement readiness must be matched by safeguard readiness, so commissioning is not delayed downstream by issues that should have been addressed upstream.
Transmission integration is the other pillar. Baynes is conceived together with the lines and substations that will evacuate power into national networks and, over time, into the Southern African Power Pool through Angola’s growing set of cross-border links. That systems view—generation + transmission + operations—keeps the project anchored in the reality of dispatch, grid codes and protection schemes rather than in standalone megawatt headlines.
On the operational side, the project is framed to deliver availability and cost predictability. Firm capacity from Baynes can anchor industrial demand, stabilize voltage profiles and reduce unserved energy during maintenance windows on other plants. It also supports renewable integration by providing a controllable backbone that balances variable resources and allows more solar to be absorbed without compromising reliability.
The economic and skills dividends are equally relevant. Construction will mobilise local contractors, logistics, materials, catering and services—creating jobs and a supply-chain footprint in the border provinces. Training tied to construction and future operations builds a skills legacy for technicians and engineers that persists long after first power.
Critically, governance sits at the centre of delivery. Angola and Namibia’s joint structures provide a forum to track milestones, publish progress dashboards and coordinate decision-making on schedule, budget and quality. For investors and contractors, that clarity reduces uncertainty. For communities, it signals that the project is being built with transparency and accountability—principles repeatedly stressed by Minister João Baptista Borges.
Baynes is not a race to pour concrete; it is a test of disciplined execution. By sequencing engineering, safeguards and procurement—and by treating transmission as integral rather than accessory—the project is positioned to turn decades of planning into reliable, affordable megawatt-hours. In doing so, it strengthens Angola’s energy security, deepens regional cooperation and delivers tangible benefits to households and businesses on both sides of the Kunene.
