Power back on at Drimiopsis

POWER was restored at the settlements of Drimiopsis and Ben Hur in the Omaheke Region on Monday after the regional education office made a payment commitment to NamPower.

NamPower pulled the plug on the two settlements in the Kalahari Constituency on Thursday last week because the Omaheke Regional Council owes it money. The blackout had serious implications for two schools at Drimiopsis and one at Ben Hur, which were left without water too because their water pump is powered by electricity.The Omaheke Regional Education Director, Natalia /Goagoses, negotiated with NamPower and the power utility agreed to reconnect the power after the Ministry of Education promised to pay N$160 000.”NamPower was adamant that they will not reconnect the power unless there is payment,” said /Goagoses.”Now, all three schools have power and water,” she said./Goagoses said the Regional Council gets power from NamPower, which it then sells to end users at the settlements.Users pay the Regional Council, which then pays NamPower.The Namibian was reliably informed that the Omaheke Regional Council owes NamPower about N$400 000.The blackout had serious implications for two schools at Drimiopsis and one at Ben Hur, which were left without water too because their water pump is powered by electricity.The Omaheke Regional Education Director, Natalia /Goagoses, negotiated with NamPower and the power utility agreed to reconnect the power after the Ministry of Education promised to pay N$160 000.”NamPower was adamant that they will not reconnect the power unless there is payment,” said /Goagoses. “Now, all three schools have power and water,” she said./Goagoses said the Regional Council gets power from NamPower, which it then sells to end users at the settlements.Users pay the Regional Council, which then pays NamPower.The Namibian was reliably informed that the Omaheke Regional Council owes NamPower about N$400 000.