NamPower pours N$37m into five Hardap electrification projects

The Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower) has poured about N$37 million into five rural electrification projects in the Hardap region.

This was said by the power utility’s managing director, Simson Haulofu, during the inauguration of the Maltahöhe informal settlement extension one, August Dam and Kruiss village electrification projects on Tuesday.

“Of the five projects in the Hardap region, three were energised, one is complete but yet to be energised, while the last one is at award stage,” Haulofu told an audience that included mines and energy deputy minister Kornelia Shilunga and Hardap governor Salomon April.

The electrification for the August Dam, Kruiss and Maltahöhe informal settlements is part of the bigger NamPower Hardap region 2024/25 rural and peri-urban electrification projects, he said.

“The August Dam and Kruiss project comes at a cost of N$3.2 million and the Maltahöhe informal settlement at a cost of N$3.3 million,” said Haulofu.

Under the project, 115 houses were electrified at Maltahöhe informal settlement extension one, while 21 units were connected to the grid at August Dam and Kruiss villages.

“The project involved the construction of medium and low-voltage networks to provide electrification to the two villages.

“The electrical network for August Dam and Kruiss consists of a 30km 33kV medium voltage overhead line, two medium-to low-voltage transformers, 2.7km low-voltage overhead lines, and 200m of underground low voltage cables,” said the executive.

“Other recently electrified localities in the Hardap region, under this programme, are Farm Naris, Vleiveld B, Khoherab, Steynsdraai and Schlip Auction Venue villages,” Haulofu said, urging beneficiaries to be the custodians of the infrastructure.

In her keynote address, Shilunga said the ministry is committed to ensuring every Namibian household is electrified.

“However, Namibia has a population of just over three million and this low population density presents unique challenges for electrification,” she said, adding that 47% of households have access to electricity from the grid.

“Given our geographical size and sparse population, our electrification rate is one of the highest in similarly low-density countries. But we know there is more work to be done,” she said.

The cost of connections in the Hardap region, with 28 197 households spread over a vast area, can be high, the deputy minister added.

Shilunga, however, said the region boasts one of the highest electrification rates in the country of 62%.

“This is a testament to the government’s commitment and the resilience of the people. However, we must also recognise this represents a decline from 67% in 2011, due to increased migration to peri-urban areas,” she said.

To address this, the government has prioritised the electrification of informal settlements to ensure they are not left behind.

“For the 2025/26 financial year, we have allocated N$12 million for electrification in the Hardap and //Kharas regions, with a focus on peri-urban localities.

“We are in negotiations with NamPower to supplement this budget and are exploring additional funds from the National Energy Fund and developmental partners,” Shilunga said.

This aligns with the National Electrification Policy 2022, to electrify all households by or before 2040.

“We are working tirelessly to bring that deadline forward because we know electricity is not a luxury but a necessity for economic growth, education and healthcare,” she said.

Shilunga urged Namibians to embrace the potential of off-grid technologies, with approximately 12% of the population using off-grid solutions, primarily solar systems, to meet their electricity needs.

– email: matthew@namibian.com.na

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