Energy
On the energy front, the
growing demand for electricity
has resulted in several power
generation projects. One of the
most notable examples include
the Gibe III, a 1,870MW
hydroelectric project located
on the Omo River in Ethiopia.
Completed in 2016, the plant
can produce 6,500 GWh of
electricity annually. 6 There
are also many interconnection
projects which COMESA and
the Tripartite (COMESA-
EAC-SADC) are involved in,
including the 2,300km Zambia-
Tanzania-Kenya (ZTK) Power
Transmission Project. The ZTK
interconnector endeavours to
not only link the three countries
but also create a connection
to the Southern Africa Power
Pool and the East African Power Pool, making it possible
to convey power from the Cape to Cairo. 7 The Zimbabwe-
Zambia-Botswana-Namibia (ZiZaBoNa) interconnector
project (estimated at $59 million) is scheduled to be
completed in 2019. ZiZaBoNa will facilitate power trading
across the four nations, alleviating bottlenecks on the north-
south transmission corridor (from South Africa to Zimbabwe)
and it will add a 400kV western corridor to the Southern
African Power Pool. 8
One of the most notable
examples include the Gibe
III, a 1,870MW Hydroelectric
Project, located on the Omo
River, Ethiopia. Completed in
2016, the plant can produce
6,500 GWh of electricity
annually.
Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
The $300 million COMTEL regional connectivity project
is a testament to the importance that COMESA places on ICT
and its key role in intra-regional and international trade. 9 This
multinational broadband project aims to connect the networks
of member countries, thereby providing a cost-effective
regional telecommunications network that could greatly
facilitate economic integration. 10 Furthermore, COMESA
has proposed the creation of a digital free trade area, to be
divided into three parts: e-trade, e-logistics, and e-legislation.
Collectively, these segments will “promote e-commerce by
providing an online platform for [regional] traders to do
business online.” 11
COMESA’s infrastructural challenges stem from both a
lack of resources and capacity among its members to plan,
coordinate, implement and maintain reliable and effective
infrastructure networks. These challenges have, however,
not translated into a lack of
determination, as COMESA
has demonstrated a regional
commitment to infrastructure
development via numerous
infrastructure projects. Going
forward, COMESA is likely to
forge ahead with infrastructure
developments, and especially
those projects which hasten
economic integration.
COMESA’s need to construct,
update and modernise
infrastructure has created a
sizeable market for foreign
investors that possess the skills
and technology to build its
members into not only regional
economic forces but also global
economic players.
References:
1
https://www.tralac.org/news/article/11245-comesa-call-
for-papers-2017-boosting-intra-african-trade-through-recs.
html
2
https://www.tralac.org/news/article/12223-comesa-s-
trade-potential-pegged-at-over-us-80bn.html
3
http://www.comesa.int/comesas-trade-potential-pegged-
at-over-us80bn/
4
http://africamoney.info/comesa-to-hold-infrastructure-
summit-fast-track-projects/
5
http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/print-version/shire-
zambezi-2016-02-19
6
https://ethiopia.salini-impregilo.com/en/projects/gibe-
iii-hydroelectric.html
7
https://www.esi-africa.com/ztk-power-interconnector/
8
https://www.executiverelocationsafrica.com/zizabona-
power-project-advances/
9
http://www.comesa.int/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/
comesa-in-brief_2014.pdf
10
http://www.itwebafrica.com/telecommunications/335-
africa/237961-comesa-seeks-to-revive-dormant-us30m-
comtel-project
11
http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/228217/
* The author is a Ph.D. Candidate, University of Cape
Town, South Africa and an independent researcher and
analyst
COMESA• 2018 • 23