Zorena Jantze
FOR the year 2020, NamPower imported 64% of the total energy from neighbouring South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe to meet increasing local energy demands.
Around 8% of the local energy requirement was met by Namibian Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
This is according to the annual report for the year 2020 of the Electrical Control Board (ECB).
The report elaborated that to reduce dependence on imports and to increase the share of local generation, NamPower has since 2015 signed 19 Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with IPPs.
NamPower at the beginning of September 2021 also announced that it has commenced with the construction of the 287km long 400 kV Auas-Gerus transmission line.
The line will run from Auas substation near Dordabis, to Gerus substation near Otjiwarongo.
The 287km Auas-Gerus 400 kV transmission line is part of the company’s investment in expanding its transmission infrastructure backbone by more than 800 kilometres.
NamPower stated that the construction of the Auas-Gerus transmission line will help NamPower maintain pace with the evolving electricity needs of the country as the line will allow the utility to serve an increased number of customers through access to its existing IPPs and prospective solar, hydro, biomass, wind and other generation plants, thereby enhancing accessibility to clean energy in the country.
In its report, the ECB noted that while Namibia remains an important player within the region, their own projects and programs are slowly attaining the country’s vision of self-sufficiency and supporting our vision of maintaining alternative and mixed sources of energy.
In order to enhance security of supply, the Board approved the Modified Single Buyer Market Model, which is envisaged to enable the partial opening of the electricity market in Namibia by allowing IPPs to sell electricity to Contestable Customers via bilateral transactions.
