Namibia’s state power concern, NamPower, has inaugurated its first fully owned and operated renewable energy plant, the Omburu 20-MW PV Power Station in the Erongo region. The project was carried out at a cost of around $20 million. The plant, straddling 40 hectares, is expected to supply 67.8-GWh of clean energy annually.
The Omburu plant is built to be ready for battery energy storage, as part of the strategy to provide innovative electricity solutions for its customers. NamPower managing director Simson Haulofu said the Namibian and German governments, through the KfW Development Bank, yielded funding of a €20 million grant towards the implementation of the first ever utility scale Battery Energy Storage System in Namibia and the southern African region.
The entire workforce involved in this Project were Namibians, including the Consultants involved in the design, the sub-contractors, and the laborers. The semi-skilled and unskilled laborers were sourced locally from Omaruru local community. Moreover, the NamPower employees appointed to run the Power Station underwent training to equip them to operate and maintain this Plant. It therefore gives us great joy to inform you that this is truly a Namibian product.
A release by the company stated: “This Plant is a demonstration of NamPower’s unwavering commitment to becoming the leading electricity solutions provider of choice in SADC, a catalyst for economic growth in Namibia and in the region.
“NamPower continues to provide innovative electricity solutions, in an evolving market, which satisfy the needs of our customers, fulfil the aspirations of our staff, and the expectations of our stakeholders in a competitive, sustainable and environmentally friendly manner, through both our own resources and strategic partnerships, resulting in reliable and affordable solutions to the benefit of our customers.”