Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Nangolo Mbumba has urged the Ministry of Mines and Energy, as well as the Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower), to work towards the provision of affordable electricity supply.
“We have been witnessing increasing calls from various communities in Namibia for the provision of affordable municipal rates and taxes, especially with regard to electricity and water supply. Therefore, in our supply models for these basic commodities, we should factor in innovative ways and means, and solutions on how to make such public goods affordable for communities who cannot afford them, either through exports, cross-subsidisation, or new technologies,” the president said.
He made these remarks at the official inauguration of the ANIXAS Power Station in Walvis Bay. The president highlighted that Namibia currently imports between 40% and 70% of its electricity from neighbouring countries, depending on the various fluctuating conditions of demand, supply, and production. Considering this, he emphasised that the inauguration of the ANIXAS Power Station is a significant milestone in the country’s pursuit of energy security and sustainable development.
INAUGURATED: Scenes from the inauguration of the ANIXAS Power Station in Walvis Bay. Photos: Namibian Presidency. 
INAUGURATED: Scenes from the inauguration of the ANIXAS Power Station in Walvis Bay. Photos: Namibian Presidency. 
INAUGURATED: Scenes from the inauguration of the ANIXAS Power Station in Walvis Bay. Photos: Namibian Presidency. 
INAUGURATED: Scenes from the inauguration of the ANIXAS Power Station in Walvis Bay. Photos: Namibian Presidency. 
INAUGURATED: Scenes from the inauguration of the ANIXAS Power Station in Walvis Bay. Photos: Namibian Presidency. 
INAUGURATED: Scenes from the inauguration of the ANIXAS Power Station in Walvis Bay. Photos: Namibian Presidency. 
INAUGURATED: Scenes from the inauguration of the ANIXAS Power Station in Walvis Bay. Photos: Namibian Presidency.
“Since these countries are sometimes constrained in their own local supply, we cannot depend on them indefinitely. With this in mind, it is pertinent that we expand our renewable energy resources and eventually position ourselves as an exporter of electricity to the region. To this extent, there is a need for a diversified energy mix, one that balances local generation with strategic imports, ensuring that Namibia remains resilient to global and regional energy shocks,” he continued.
However, President Mbumba cautioned that self-sufficiency should not come at the cost of affordability. Instead, he emphasised, a well-balanced electricity sector must prioritise affordability alongside self-reliance, exploring all avenues, from cost-effective renewable energy deployment to strategic imports.
“Our supply models for these basic commodities should factor in innovative ways and means, and solutions on how to make such public goods affordable for communities who cannot afford them, either through exports, cross-subsidisation, or new technologies,” the president added.
