Nampower blamed for high electricity cost

The President of the Trade Union Congress of Namibia, Mahongora Kavihuha, believes the high cost of electricity in the country is a result of NamPower not living up to its mandate of producing electricity locally.

Kavihuha made this remark at a media conference.

The NamPower 2022 report indicates that Namibia imports 71% of its electricity from neighbouring countries.

Kavihuha says the power utility has proven ineffective in its duty to generate electricity from locally available and cheap resources.

“NamPower is an electricity-generating company, what interventions have they put in place to generate electricity here except making Namibia the bearer of electricity from other countries?”

The unionists further called on the Electricity Control Board to provide a comprehensive document to the public for scrutiny of any increase in tariffs.

“They need to be held accountable now, both by the executive and the public. For 32 years, you have seen the figures of the electricity that we are consuming. For the second one on tarrifs, we are calling upon the Electricity Control Board that whenever they receive these applications or requests for increases, they must make them public.”

In response, Nampower’s Corporate Communication and Marketing Manager, Tangeni Kambangula, says they are busy implementing planned generational projects aimed at providing a constant and adequate power supply to Namibia.

The two projects will be developed by Independent Power producers: the Khan Solar Project and the Luderitz Wind Project, which are currently under construction and expected to be completed in 2025.

While other four projects will be owned and operated by NamPower. 

These are the Walvis Bay power project expected to be completed by 2024, the Rosh Pinah Solar Project and the Otjikoto Biomass Power Projects, which are currently in the bidding process. 

The projects with a total capacity of 250 MW are at various states of implementation and will reduce Namibia’s reliance on imports and increase self-sufficiency, improve security of supply and contribute to reducing tariffs.