By: Manuel Tati - Vice President, SADC region at Schneider Electric

There’s no doubt that the SADC region holds tremendous promise; rich in natural resources, it has the potential to rapidly expand its industrial footprint.  In fact, the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap aims to diversify economies, enhance value chains, and expand productive sectors.

Like it global peers, the SADC region also needs to increase access to reliable power, and sustainably so. But despite progress, millions across the SADC region still lack consistent electricity. The region’s installed generation capacity is around 80 GW, but peak demand is only50 GW, indicating underutilisation and uneven distribution.

Indeed, across its 16 member states, the SADC region is characterised by both immense opportunity and significant infrastructure gaps. And it is here where Schneider Electric regional strategy comes into the fore, aiming to transform the landscape through digitisation, decarbonisation, and localisation. 

Supporting the above, is our commitment to local skills and supply chain development. From smart microgrids to modernised infrastructure, Schneider Electric’s initiatives align with SADC Vision 2050 and its pillars of industrial growth, regional integration, and human capital development.

Decarbonising high-impact industries

Looking closer at the SADC region’s most prominent industries, here Schneider Electric has important to role to play.  For example, the mining, minerals and metals (MMM) segment remains a cornerstone of SADC’s economy and a key player in the global green transition, providing critical minerals like cobalt, lithium, and copper. 

Schneider Electric’s green mining ecosystem focuses on digitalisation, automation, and microgrid deployment to help mining operations reduce emissions and energy consumption while improving safety and productivity.

In energy-intensive industries like chemicals and water management, Schneider Electric offers open automation, AI-driven analytics, and integrated process control systems to optimise production and minimise waste. Our digital twins and process optimisation tools enable noteworthy improvements in energy efficiency and substantial CO₂ reductions.

In the water sector, Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure for Water and Wastewater solution enhances circular water management through predictive maintenance and IoT sensors, enabling utilities to significantly cut energy use while improving resilience in drought-prone areas.

And the oil and gas sector, Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Power and Process platform helps modernise operations by integrating power and process systems. Through real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and edge computing, it enables more efficient, connected, and lower-carbon production which includes the electrification of traditionally fuel-intensive processes.

ESG and supply chain decarbonisation

Our support of the SADC region’s growth goes beyond technology.  As the World’s Most Sustainable Company, we offer comprehensive ESG consulting and data management solutions to help companies measure, report, and reduce their environmental footprint. 

Platforms like Resource Advisor allow businesses to consolidate and track their energy and sustainability performance in real time, turning compliance into competitive advantage.

Globally and regionally, our  Zero Carbon Project assists over 1,000 suppliers, including those in SADC, to cut emissions by up to 50% by 2025.  Our supply chain decarbonisation initiatives, such as Catalyze, Energize, and REnew, offer technical training, renewable energy access, and collective procurement models that ripple through industrial ecosystems, fostering systemic sustainability.

Localisation and skill development

For the SADC region to truly become a force to reckoned with, it needs to empower its people.  Our localisations strategy has played an important role in nurturing regional expertise and supporting community growth.

Our recently unveiled and first for the continent, Innovation Hub serves as a regional anchor for technology demonstration, R&D collaboration, and training, Furthermore, our operations include various training projects like the French Southern African Schneider Electric Education Centre (F’SASEC) network, Schneider Electric Youth Impact Through Learning and Youth Education & Entrepreneurship programmes.

A major milestone also saw Schneider Electric meet our global ambition to train one million

energy professionals by 2025, a commitment that directly benefits the SADC region, where youth employment and technical education are vital to long-term industrial resilience.

The SADC region’s path to a sustainable energy future demands a coordinated effort between governments, industry, and technology partners. At Schneider Electric we are striving to help SADC become an industrial powerhouse built on smart and clean energy technologies.