Gerus power substation ‘strategic’ for the region

THE target set out in Namibia’s Energy White Paper of generating at least 75 per cent of its energy requirements by 2010 is unlikely to be met, Mines and Energy Minister Erkki Nghimtina said on Monday.

Speaking at a site visit to the Gerus electricity substation near Outjo, Nghimtina said the precarious power situation in Namibia required enormous investments in power generation and transmission infrastructure to ensure that the current investment growth, particularly in the mining, agricultural and tourism sectors, is not slowed down by inadequate power supply. “The electricity shortfall that southern Africa is experiencing is a major economic and political risk to the region and the individual countries affected by this power crisis,” the Minister emphasised.The ageing Van Eck power station in Windhoek and Paratus power station in Walvis Bay have become uneconomical because of sharp increases in fuel and coal prices.”Although we have embarked on various generation projects, amongst others the Kudu gas power project, the Walvis Bay coal power station, Orange River and Baynes hydro projects and others, none of them are likely to come on stream earlier than 2010, but only after 2013,” the Minister said.The Caprivi power line currently being constructed to link the Gerus substation to Katima Mulilo would help boost electricity supply once completed at the end of 2009.”For decades Namibia has largely relied on South Africa and this reliance on one source of supply is undesirable under the current conditions where the power deficit in that country is on the rise and we can no longer be guaranteed firm power supply,” Nghimtina said.Namibia can generate 384 megawatt (MW) of electricity, but requires about 450 MW during peak demand and imports about 200 MW from South Africa and 120 MW form Zimbabwe.The import from Zimbabwe will increase to 150 MW next month.According to the Mines and Energy Minister, South Africa would have even less electricity by 2010, when its reserve energy might fall below a 10 per cent reserve margin.”This situation is detrimental for Namibia, therefore we have to reverse our reliance on one major source of energy import.”The Caprivi link would be connected to the Zambian network and also joined with an interconnection which is to link Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia (ZiZaBoNa).”This western electricity transmission corridor via the Caprivi link will enable easier trading and wheeling of power among our four countries and is a strategic project for the SADC region.”This link will enable our region to rely on each other in the sharing of our natural resources that are being exploited to provide the needed energy needs to stimulate our respective economies and by so doing meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015,” Nghimtina said.The Caprivi transmission link currently under construction crosses the Otjozondjupa, Kavango and Caprivi regions.The governors of these three regions were also present at the site visit to Gerus on Monday.”The electricity shortfall that southern Africa is experiencing is a major economic and political risk to the region and the individual countries affected by this power crisis,” the Minister emphasised.The ageing Van Eck power station in Windhoek and Paratus power station in Walvis Bay have become uneconomical because of sharp increases in fuel and coal prices.”Although we have embarked on various generation projects, amongst others the Kudu gas power project, the Walvis Bay coal power station, Orange River and Baynes hydro projects and others, none of them are likely to come on stream earlier than 2010, but only after 2013,” the Minister said.The Caprivi power line currently being constructed to link the Gerus substation to Katima Mulilo would help boost electricity supply once completed at the end of 2009.”For decades Namibia has largely relied on South Africa and this reliance on one source of supply is undesirable under the current conditions where the power deficit in that country is on the rise and we can no longer be guaranteed firm power supply,” Nghimtina said.Namibia can generate 384 megawatt (MW) of electricity, but requires about 450 MW during peak demand and imports about 200 MW from South Africa and 120 MW form Zimbabwe.The import from Zimbabwe will increase to 150 MW next month.According to the Mines and Energy Minister, South Africa would have even less electricity by 2010, when its reserve energy might fall below a 10 per cent reserve margin.”This situation is detrimental for Namibia, therefore we have to reverse our reliance on one major source of energy import.”The Caprivi link would be connected to the Zambian network and also joined with an interconnection which is to link Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia (ZiZaBoNa).”This western electricity transmission corridor via the Caprivi link will enable easier trading and wheeling of power among our four countries and is a strategic project for the SADC region.”This link will enable our region to rely on each other in the sharing of our natural resources that are being exploited to provide the needed energy needs to stimulate our respective economies and by so doing meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015,” Nghimtina said.The Caprivi transmission link currently under construction crosses the Otjozondjupa, Kavango and Caprivi regions.The governors of these three regions were also present at the site visit to Gerus on Monday.