N$6.5m project brings electricity to underserved communities

Government prioritises informal settlements and off-grid solutions to expand access
Phillipus Josef
  • 1 Week Ago
Rural electrification in the Hardap and //Kharas regions progressed with the completion of key projects focused on improving electricity access.

Speaking at the event, NamPower Managing Director, Kahenge Haulofu said that N$37 million had been allocated for numerous projects in the Hardap Region this year alone, with N$6.5 million specifically directed towards the electrification of Maltahöhe Informal Settlement Extension 1, August Dam, and Kruiss villages.

Of the five projects in Hardap, three have been energised, one is complete but yet to be energised, and the final project is at the award stage.

Haulofu expressed pride in the progress of the electrification efforts in the region, stating, “We are proud to have energised 115 households in Maltahöhe and 21 households in August Dam and Kruiss, as part of the ongoing electrification efforts in the region.”

Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, Kornelia Shilunga, who also spoke at the event, pointed out the issues posed by Namibia’s vast geography in her keynote address.

“About 47% of Namibian households currently have access to grid electricity, which is a substantial figure considering the country’s large and sparsely populated landscape,” she stated.

Additionally, she addressed the issue of rural electrification in the Hardap region, which encompasses an extensive 28 197 households.

She stressed that the region’s electrification rate stands at 62%, a decrease from 67% in 2011, partly due to the increasing migration to peri-urban areas.

Nevertheless, Shilunga emphasised the government's commitment to expanding electricity access, particularly in informal settlements such as Maltahöhe.

She announced that the ministry has allocated N$12 million for electrification projects in both the Hardap and //Kharas regions in the coming fiscal year.

The projects will focus on peri-urban areas to raise the electrification rate and improve living standards.

Furthermore, Shilunga indicated that plans to expand off-grid solutions are underway, with solar technology expected to play a major role in reaching remote areas.

Off-grid solutions are systems that enable living or operating independently of traditional utility grids, often relying on renewable energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines for power and alternative water and waste management systems.



Project scope

The scope of the projects involved the construction of a 30 km medium voltage overhead line, two medium to low voltage transformers, and extensive low voltage infrastructure, including both overhead and underground cables.

These efforts are part of a larger five-year plan to electrify the region, with other localities already electrified, namely Vleiveld B, Khoherab, and Steynsdraai.