Choi:The Namibian government has announced an ambitious plan to provide all citizens with access to modern electricity services by the year 2040. This initiative was revealed by Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse, during a keynote speech delivered on his behalf at the 29th Tulikonge Cultural Festival of the Bafwe.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Minister Amutse highlighted that currently, only 59.5% of Namibian households have electricity, with rural areas experiencing even lower access at just 37.9%. The government has allocated N$250 million from the Treasury and an additional N$10 million through the National Energy Fund for electrification programs scheduled for the 2026/27 financial year.

In his address, Amutse noted that past rural electrification efforts focused on essential public facilities such as schools, clinics, and water points, which allowed a single connection to benefit multiple users. The Mashi area has benefited from this approach, with electricity now reaching the Mashi Royal Establishment at Choi, including the palace and surrounding households.

For the current financial year, the government has budgeted N$10 million for service connections in four conservancy areas within the Zambezi Region, with N$2.5 million dedicated to the Mashi area. This project is expected to be completed by the end of the financial year.

The minister also addressed the challenges of extending the national grid to remote rural households. He advocated for solar energy as a practical alternative, citing the potential of solar home systems and community mini-grids to provide essential services. Amutse acknowledged past failures with solar systems due to poor-quality components and maintenance issues, stressing the need for standardised equipment in future projects.

He emphasised that solar energy should not be viewed as a secondary option, but rather as an effective solution for remote areas, with the possibility of integrating these areas into the national grid in the future.