Namibia and Angola have entered into an agreement with the Kunene Consortium for the launch of a feasibility study and the first phase of the development of Baynes Hydropower Station.
The hydropower station, which will be located in the Kunene River Basin, is to have a capacity of 500 MW and will aid both countries in averting power shortages.
According to the Permanent Secretary of Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy, Joseph Iita, the feasibility study will take around 18 months to complete. Iita also said that the study will determine the size and commissioning date of the station.
The concept of constructing a hydropower plant on the lower Kunene River has been a topic of discussion between the two countries since 1990. The delays in moving forward with the project had a lot to do with coming to agreement on the location of the plant; Namibia sought to build the plant at Epupa Falls, while Angola favored the Baynes location.
KFW will fund the $7 million Baynes Hydropower project study which will be undertaken in three phases and take 18 months to complete.