Local company enters into power deal with Chinese

WITH power-generation capacity dwindling in southern Africa, efforts are being made to provide alternatives to the existing power sources to meet the increasing demand in the region.

A local company has entered into an agreement with a Chinese company to supply solar-power equipment across the country. Local company Modern Solar Technology, led by Chairman Sam Ilonze, signed a distribution agreement with Shandong Modern Light Source Technology Ltd in the Ginan province of China this month.The Chinese company is known for producing anything ranging from household solar units to stadium sports lights.The deal, worth around N$250 million, will see Modern Solar Technology distributing and installing solar equipment to customers across the country, especially in the rural areas where electricity is scarce.Said Ilonze: “The agreement between Modern Solar Technology and the Chinese will make affordable energy resources accessible to many residents.”Although this is Modern Solar Technology’s first project of this magnitude in Namibia, the company is involved in similar projects in other countries in the region.Besides supplying the equipment, Modern Solar Technology and its Chinese counterpart are also planning to establish an assembly plant in Namibia and offer technical support to help local people benefit from the abundant sunshine experienced in the country most of the year.”Solar [power] can play an important role in meeting the energy needs of the future and can provide hope to the many households that have no hope to afford electricity installation…Without power, small rural settlements and areas will find it difficult to become economically viable and their residents will not be able to escape the poverty trap,” said Ilonze.The first consignment of solar equipment from China is expected to arrive in Namibia during the first week of November.Local company Modern Solar Technology, led by Chairman Sam Ilonze, signed a distribution agreement with Shandong Modern Light Source Technology Ltd in the Ginan province of China this month.The Chinese company is known for producing anything ranging from household solar units to stadium sports lights.The deal, worth around N$250 million, will see Modern Solar Technology distributing and installing solar equipment to customers across the country, especially in the rural areas where electricity is scarce.Said Ilonze: “The agreement between Modern Solar Technology and the Chinese will make affordable energy resources accessible to many residents.”Although this is Modern Solar Technology’s first project of this magnitude in Namibia, the company is involved in similar projects in other countries in the region.Besides supplying the equipment, Modern Solar Technology and its Chinese counterpart are also planning to establish an assembly plant in Namibia and offer technical support to help local people benefit from the abundant sunshine experienced in the country most of the year.”Solar [power] can play an important role in meeting the energy needs of the future and can provide hope to the many households that have no hope to afford electricity installation…Without power, small rural settlements and areas will find it difficult to become economically viable and their residents will not be able to escape the poverty trap,” said Ilonze.The first consignment of solar equipment from China is expected to arrive in Namibia during the first week of November.