Nam/Bots concerned by looming power crisis

BOTSWANA President Festus Mogae concluded his three-day visit to Namibia on Thursday with the commissioning of a new power substation near the border between the two southern African countries.

Mogae and President Hifikepunye Pohamba commissioned the plant, located near Gobabis to be known as the Omaere-Ghanzi Substation, on Thursday after they both raised concerns about the almost certain possibility that the two countries will run out of power in the not-so-distant future. Namibia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Marco Hausiku, who read a joint statement at the end of Mogae’s visit, said the two Heads of State had noted with concern that one of the major challenges facing their two countries – and the southern African region in general – is the looming deficit in power generation and supply.But he also said the two presidents also noted with appreciation the significant progress that has been made on the cross-border electricity supply between Namibia and Botswana.”In this regard, they expressed satisfaction on their joint commissioning of the Omaere-Chanzi Substation and also took note of Botswana’s plans to exploit its coal reserves to generate thermal power with a view to supply other countries in the region in the future,” Hausiku reported.Namibia, especially, could face a serious power shortage crisis in the next two years unless something drastic is done to salvage the situation.Recently, it was reported that Namibia was planning to commence negotiations with Zambia and Zimbabwe to extend electricity import options via the Caprivi inter-connector in order to secure and meet challenges that the country faces to meet its future electricity needs by 2007.Mines and Energy Minister Erkki Nghimtina informed a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics, Natural Resources and Public Administration last year that the contract of NamPower and the South African electricity utility, Eskom, will expire by 2007 and if something is not done before hand to secure enough electricity, the country might be faced with a big electricity crisis.”Power shortage is mainly a big problem that the ministry is currently considering, unless something is done before 2007, otherwise we might end with a difficult problem,” Nghimtina had said.The Kudu Gas Project, at the coast, is one of the main solutions that the country could rely on and government this year committed considerable finances towards the project to enable developers to have a final investment decision and commerce with the project.The Kudu Gas project is planned to supply gas to a proposed power plant in Oranjemund of up to 800 megawatts for 25 years.According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Namibia could then use 400 megawatts for its own consumption and export the remaining 400 megawatts to other countries in the region.The upstream players of this project, NamCo and Energy Africa, have already signed a memorandum of understanding and a joint development agreement to develop the gas field.NamPower and other stakeholders are responsible for developing the downstream of the project.President Mogae was accompanied by his wife, First Lady Barbara Mogae, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Lt.Gen.Mompati Merafhe.Minister of Works and Transport Lesego Motsumi, Trade and Industry Minister Daniel Moroka and by Charles Tibone, the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources.- NampaNamibia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Marco Hausiku, who read a joint statement at the end of Mogae’s visit, said the two Heads of State had noted with concern that one of the major challenges facing their two countries – and the southern African region in general – is the looming deficit in power generation and supply.But he also said the two presidents also noted with appreciation the significant progress that has been made on the cross-border electricity supply between Namibia and Botswana.”In this regard, they expressed satisfaction on their joint commissioning of the Omaere-Chanzi Substation and also took note of Botswana’s plans to exploit its coal reserves to generate thermal power with a view to supply other countries in the region in the future,” Hausiku reported.Namibia, especially, could face a serious power shortage crisis in the next two years unless something drastic is done to salvage the situation.Recently, it was reported that Namibia was planning to commence negotiations with Zambia and Zimbabwe to extend electricity import options via the Caprivi inter-connector in order to secure and meet challenges that the country faces to meet its future electricity needs by 2007.Mines and Energy Minister Erkki Nghimtina informed a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics, Natural Resources and Public Administration last year that the contract of NamPower and the South African electricity utility, Eskom, will expire by 2007 and if something is not done before hand to secure enough electricity, the country might be faced with a big electricity crisis.”Power shortage is mainly a big problem that the ministry is currently considering, unless something is done before 2007, otherwise we might end with a difficult problem,” Nghimtina had said.The Kudu Gas Project, at the coast, is one of the main solutions that the country could rely on and government this year committed considerable finances towards the project to enable developers to have a final investment decision and commerce with the project.The Kudu Gas project is planned to supply gas to a proposed power plant in Oranjemund of up to 800 megawatts for 25 years.According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Namibia could then use 400 megawatts for its own consumption and export the remaining 400 megawatts to other countries in the region.The upstream players of this project, NamCo and Energy Africa, have already signed a memorandum of understanding and a joint development agreement to develop the gas field.NamPower and other stakeholders are responsible for developing the downstream of the project.President Mogae was accompanied by his wife, First Lady Barbara Mogae, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Lt.Gen.Mompati Merafhe.Minister of Works and Transport Lesego Motsumi, Trade and Industry Minister Daniel Moroka and by Charles Tibone, the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources.- Nampa