Windhoek: The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy has launched a Service Level Agreement with the Southern Regional Electricity Distributor (SORED) during a ceremony at Aimablaagte Ext 5 informal settlement in Mariental. The initiative focuses on a peri-urban electrification project aimed at benefiting the Hardap and ?Kharas regions.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the government, through this agreement, has allocated N.dollars 12 million to electrify 969 peri-urban households across these regions. The targeted areas include communities in Rehoboth, Mariental, Aranos, Hoachanas, and Gibeon, as well as Aroab, Bethanie, Berseba, Aus, Grnau, and Warmbad. Minister Amutse stated that the government's commitment is to ensure electricity access for every household, irrespective of location or income level.

Furthermore, Amutse announced plans to increase the allocation to at least N.dollars 20 million to strengthen partnerships with other stakeholders and funding partners. The groundbreaking ceremony also highlighted contributions from the Rehoboth Town Council and the Mariental Municipality, which provided N.dollars 2.5 million and N.dollars 1.5 million, respectively.

The government is also promoting solar solutions for areas with challenging grid connections. This includes offering affordable financing through a solar revolving fund and collaborating with initiatives like Mission 300 to enhance electricity access. Amutse mentioned the high costs of electricity infrastructure and the need for alternative solutions to avoid delays in reaching remote areas.

The projects initiated are moving from planning to implementation. Contractors for Mariental and Rehoboth have been appointed, work in Aroab has started, and procurement processes for other towns have been concluded, with implementation to commence soon.