561 households electrified in northern Namibia

Deputy prime minister and minister of industries, mines and energy Natangue Ithete says the ministry has so far connected electricity in 561 households in the Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshana and Oshikoto regions.

He says this was made possible with N$12 million from the ministry and over N$9 million contribution the Central North Regional Electricity Distributor.

Ithete was speaking at the occasion of the commission of the joint electrification projects at Ombili at Otjiwarongo.

He said the ministry plans to have made 200 000 new connections by 2030 and 400 000 by 2040 as part of the Mission 300 Energy Compact which is an African effort to electrify 300 million households by 2040.

He highlighted that in places without electricity, people use candles, paraffin lamps and some often in the dark. He said using these kinds of light poses risks of fire breakouts and children inhaling smoke while studying.

“Today marks the end of this. Children can now sit at a table, switch on lights and do their homeworks safely. A mother can help her child revise maths on a simple phone connected to the internet and a father can follow the evening news on the radio or TV,” Ithete said.

He added that the commissioning of electricity creates job opportunities, improves livelihoods and provides a dignified living standard.

With the electricity connection at Ombili, Ithete said the business scope is expanded, because vendors are no longer restricted to selling goods such as milk, meat and vegetables and families can save money because they will not need to travel to access electricity based services.

“With the electricity connections at Ombili, local trading is transformed because now vendors are no longer limited to selling dry goods.Our young people can start fixing cars and sewing in their own households,” he said.

He emphasised that proper planning, partnership and consultation is key to ensuring electrification in the entire country.

He further said criminals will no longer find their ways in the dark with streetlights in the community to provide safety and security.

“We can confidently say electricity makes streets and homes safer. These are practical ways in which electrification impacts lives at the community level,” he said.

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