Local power lights up March figures with 59%

Namibia sourced most of its electricity locally in March, with supply, imports, sales and exports all recording notable month-on-month and annual growth.

This amounted to 275 941MWh, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).

The remaining 40.9%, or 191 134MWh, was imported from neighbouring countries.

“A similar trend was observed in February 2025 and March 2024, with local generation continuing to provide the majority share of electricity supplied,” the NSA says.

Of the locally generated electricity in March, the Ruacana Hydro Power Station contributed the lion’s share, producing 87.3% or 240 929MWh.

Independent power producers followed, with a 9.6% contribution (26 543MWh), while the Omburu PV Solar Power Station and the Anixas 2 Diesel Power Station contributed 1.4% (3 803MWh) and 1.3% (3 679MWh), respectively.

The Electricity Sources Composite Index, which tracks both domestic generation and imports, rose by 10.2% in March compared to February, and by 2.8% year on year.

Total electricity supplied to the domestic economy during March reached 467 076MWh, up from 423 727MWh in February and 454 240MWh in March the previous year.

Electricity imports also saw growth, with the import index increasing by 11.3% in March, rebounding from a 7.5% drop in February.
Year on year, imports rose by 15.5%.

South Africa remained Namibia’s largest source of imported electricity, accounting for 47.3% of total imports, followed by Zambia at 36.1% and Zimbabwe at 10.9%.

Other contributors included Eskom Orange River (5.6%) and the Day Ahead Market-SAPP (0.1%).

The electricity sales composite index climbed 10.2% in March, reversing a 7.8% drop in the previous month.

On a year-on-year basis, it grew by 6.8%.

Total electricity sales reached 426 518 MWh in March 2025, surpassing the 387 133 MWh recorded in February and 399 316MWh in March 2024.

Domestic electricity sales rose by 8.8% in March, recovering from an 8.5% decline in February.

Compared to the same period last year, domestic sales were up 2.2%.

The largest share of sales went to redistributors – large power users (66.5%), followed by mines (25.7%), Eskom Orange River (3.3%), and farms – main supply (1.3%).

Electricity exports also experienced strong growth, with the export sales index increasing by 14.8% in March, reversing a 5.2% drop in February.

Year on year, exports surged by 25.1%.

Namibia exported a total of 101 189MWh in March, of which 97.9% was sold through stem sales – Southern African Power Pool.
Other export destinations included Botswana (1.2%), Angola (0.5%), and South Africa (0.4%).

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