
The governments of Namibia and Angola have finalized a N$4 billion agreement to construct the Angola-Namibia Interconnector. Signed in Luanda on April 14, this deal will integrate Angola into the Southern African Power Pool. Namibia is fully funding the project through its National Energy Fund, allowing it to own essential infrastructure even within Angolan territory. NamPower states this N$4 billion investment is strategic for ensuring accessible and affordable energy for Namibians, while also building a regional energy market. The financial structure includes a negotiated tariff for Namibia to recover its investment over time. The interconnector involves a 160km, 400 kV transmission line between Cahama, Angola, and Kunene, Namibia, and a 270km supporting line in Namibia connecting Omatando and Otjikoto. The N$4 billion will also fund high-tech infrastructure, including 400kV/330kV transformation systems and a static var compensator in the Kunene region for voltage stability. NamPower managing director Simson Haulofu noted that the 'Anna' project facilitates effective resource sharing and is a central pillar of their 2026 to 2030 strategy, positioning Namibia as a leader in regional energy security. Environmental clearances have been obtained, and transmission line routing studies are underway for the project, which is expected to deliver 300MW of firm power to Namibia.
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Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel of the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe team secured victory in the 15th stage of the Tour de France, beating race leader Tadej Pogacar in a sprint finish. The 183.9km stage from Champagnole to Plateau de Solaison saw Evenepoel achieve his first Tour road-stage win, adding to his two time-trial successes. Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates – XRG teammate Isaac Del Toro finished third, six seconds behind. The stage was marked by a significant incident when former winner Jonas Vingegaard, who started the day in second place overall, crashed approximately 20km from the finish. Vingegaard, visibly in pain and with what appeared to be a broken collarbone, was forced to withdraw from the race. Following Vingegaard's exit, Pogacar extended his overall lead to five minutes. Evenepoel moved up to second in the general classification, while Del Toro climbed to third and took the best young rider's white jersey from Paul Seixas. Visma sporting director Marc Reef confirmed Vingegaard's withdrawal, stating he was in pain and unable to continue, and had gone for an X-ray. Vingegaard had never previously failed to finish a Grand Tour, having won the Tour de France twice and finished second three times in his five previous participations.

Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, won the Belgian Grand Prix, extending his lead in the Formula One drivers’ championship. The 19-year-old finished 1.9 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, with four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull in third. Antonelli’s teammate George Russell crashed out on the opening lap after an incident with Hamilton. Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, finished fourth despite an incident during a pit-stop where he almost hit a mechanic, leading to a stewards’ investigation. Isack Hadjar of Red Bull finished sixth, just ahead of reigning world champion Lando Norris. This victory marks Antonelli’s sixth win and sixth pole position of the season, increasing his championship points to 204, 45 points clear of Hamilton, with Russell in third place with 154 points. The race saw multiple incidents, including a five-second penalty for Hamilton for his collision with Russell, and further investigations by the stewards regarding an unsafe release during a pit-stop.
Must ReadThe African Development Bank has announced a N$5.6 billion investment in Namibia's technical and vocational education and training TVET system and artificial intelligence. This funding aims to modernize vocational institutions, establish a National Artificial Intelligence Institute, and create 15,000 workplace opportunities for young people by 2030. While this is a positive development, there are calls for transparency and accountability, particularly regarding job creation. Concerns have been raised that the 15,000 jobs will be meaningless if private companies are not in a position to hire graduates, which is linked to the fair allocation of state tenders. The article also highlights the need for Information and Communication Technology Minister Emma Theofelus to accelerate the development of laws and regulations for artificial intelligence, noting that policy progress in this area has been slow.