Namibia has not yet achieved universal electricity access despite having a wide range of energy resources, and the country still imports about 60 per cent of its electricity, Mines and Energy Deputy Minister Kornelia Shilunga has said.
Shilunga made the remarks on Tuesday at the Africa Energy Forum in London in the United Kingdom.
In a statement availed to Nampa on Wednesday, Shilunga said Namibia’s demand for electricity is optimally met by a combination of self-generation and trading with Southern Africa Power Pool members. Even though the share of imported power is reducing as more local power plants are constructed, the intention is to further reduce reliance on imports towards 2030.
“Namibia is open for business, it has a well-established fit-for-purpose regulatory and legislative framework. The implementation of the Modified Single Buyer structure is liberating the electricity supply market to allow private entrants to power generation and supply side, opening the market responsible whilst still maintaining the security of supply and grid integrity,” said Shilunga.
She added that the National Integrated Resource Plan is in the final stages of being updated, seeking the most optimal and cost-effective plans for Namibia to serve its consumers with secure and affordable electricity.
The plan includes options for storage projects to support and enable the integration of more low cost solar and wind options and in support of that, Namibia recently concluded its storage regulations for the building and operation of electricity storage solutions connected to the national grid.
“Our aim is to ensure that we maximise value generation from all our available energy resources for the benefit of our people. In addition, we aim to be a net exporter of energy in southern Africa through the Southern Africa Power Pool. This will allow us to provide energy to our neighbouring countries that may experience a power deficit,” stated Shilunga.
She further noted that Namibia considers its oil and natural gas resources as very important to its socio-economic development and therefore, Namibia has an active upstream petroleum sector.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
