Windhoek: The Electricity Control Board (ECB) has issued a stern warning to underperforming municipalities and regional councils in Namibia, threatening to revoke their electricity distribution licences. This move comes in response to an audit revealing widespread non-compliance within the country's power infrastructure, with the ECB planning to hand over operations to more competent operators.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the audit, which assessed transmission, distribution, and supply networks across all 14 regions under section 37 of the Electricity Act 4 of 2007, found significant inadequacies. The ECB's National Electricity Infrastructure Status Report for 2024/2025, released on Monday, highlighted that nine distribution licensees were audited, and most networks were rated poorly due to failure in implementing the Namibia Electricity Safety Code and maintaining infrastructure standards.
The report identified //Kharas as the region with the highest risk of continued non-compliance, followed by Hardap and Omaheke. In contrast, regions served by regional electricity distributors (REDs) generally outperformed those managed by councils. Notably, only Khomas, managed by the City of Windhoek, and Otjozondjupa, under CENORED, received satisfactory ratings among council-managed areas.
The ECB has committed to intensifying audits on ageing infrastructure through the Namibian Electrical Distribution Network Asset Register. It plans to formally notify local and regional councillors and the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) of persistent non-compliance, urging remedial action.
Furthermore, the ECB has called for the operationalisation of two planned regional distributors, Southern RED and Central RED, and urged MURD to encourage local authorities hesitant to join these companies. MURD has also been asked to allocate budgetary resources for network maintenance and to staff under-capacitated councils with qualified electricians. Concurrently, the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy has been urged to release National Energy Fund resources to support council-run networks and coordinate funding efforts with MURD.
The report also detailed capacity concerns beyond council-run networks. Among seven audited mines, Namdeb accounted for over 55% of non-compliance issues, attributed to ageing infrastructure and insufficient maintenance. Additionally, thirteen farmer-run electricity schemes were audited, with over 60% rated poorly due to capacity, ownership, and governance challenges, leading to 300 recorded non-compliance issues.
In contrast, NamPower's transmission network, evaluated in the Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, and Oshikoto regions, was the only category rated satisfactory with low risk. ECB Chief Executive Officer, Robert Kahimise, emphasized the report's transparency in highlighting areas of weakness, particularly in regions where electricity is managed by local councils rather than dedicated companies.