A public hearing is scheduled for today at the Kuisebmond community hall to give residents a chance to air their views on NamPower's request to obtain a waiver on the EIA.

The power utility wants to skip the environmental assessment in order to speed up the project in view of the urgency of supplying more power to the coast.

The expansion plan entails storing thousands of litres of diesel in large tanks next to the plant at the town's entrance.

Critics say this would mean high levels of air and noise pollution for the residents of Walvis Bay.

The expansion would increase the power generated by Paratus by 50 megawatt.

The plant currently only generates 24 MW, and is used mainly as a backup because of the high cost of diesel, which last week passed the psychological ten-dollar barrier.

"It does not make sense at all to spend all those millions on diesel to achieve an output of 50 MW of electricity," said Harald Schuett, an expert in renewable energies.

"About 80 MW could be saved countrywide and for lesser expense, if the electric water geysers in buildings and private homes would be replaced with solar water heaters," Schuett told The Namibian this week.

"An overseas investor is also interested in setting up a wind power park outside Luederitz and Walvis Bay, which would be much cheaper."

According to an information sheet on the Paratus expansion made available by a consulting firm appointed by NamPower, the recent upsurge in the uranium-mining sector in the Erongo Region will substantially increase electricity demand.

NamPower also plans a new 200 to 450 MW coal-fired power station in Walvis Bay as part of a long-term programme to increase electricity supply.

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