By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Erastus
An assessment by the World Bank has reiterated that Namibia has a world-class but largely untapped renewable energy resource and is well positioned for development.
The bank added its voice to the country’s renewable energy potential through its Country Private Sector Diagnostic Report, which was released at the end of July 2022.
According to the World Bank, Namibia has one of the highest solar irradiation levels in the world, at nearly 3,000 kilowatt hours per square meter over a large part of the country.
Namibia also has excellent wind resources that are available when electricity demand is highest; mean wind speeds at typical turbine heights can exceed 10 meters per second.
The World Bank experts indicated that if exploited well in the medium to long term can spill good beans in terms of energy security.
“These excellent fundamentals, coupled with recent decreases in global prices of solar photovoltaic panels and wind turbines, could enable Namibia not only to service its own rising electricity demand but also to become a leading regional exporter to other Southern African Power Pool peers,” the experts wrote.
Namibia’s resources also create the opportunity to position the country as a global competitor for green hydrogen.
However, the experts have indicated that the country has to do more groundwork at a policy level, capacity, finance and technical skills.
In the short term, the researcher suggests the country strengthen the implementation of the Modified Single Buyer model by increasing private sector actors’ understanding and participation.
They are also encouraged to accelerate the regulatory reforms proposed in the National Integrated Resource Plan and the Electricity Act.
Furthermore, it is also recommended for the country to enhance its capacity to deliver successful renewable energy transactions while supporting private participation in off-grid electrification.
Given the capital outlay required by the energy, the country should introduce derisking and innovative financing instruments to enable access to capital.
While in the medium to long-term, the report advised the country to increase the availability of specialised technical skills for the renewable energy sector.
Moreover, the country is advised to target investments to develop a renewable energy value chain and explore opportunities to restructure NamPower.
CURRENT GENERATION AND RUACANA DEPENDENCE
The latest local electricity production for May 2022 stood at 152 261 MWh compared to 265 053 MWh produced in April 2022.
Most electricity generation mainly occurred at the Ruacana Power Station (79.3 per cent), while the Alten Hardap Solar IPP contributed 5.4 per cent.
Omburu PV Solar station produced only 3.3 per cent of the electricity.
As a result, a total of 204 296 MWh of electricity was imported into the country for the month.
The electricity was mainly sourced from Zesco in Zambia (58.8 per cent), followed by Eskom Aggeneis in South Africa (19.3 per cent).
ZPC in Zimbabwe supplied 12.1 per cent of electricity required by Namibia, while 5.3 per cent of electricity was sourced from Eskom Orange River.
Domestic electricity sales were mainly sold to Redistributors – Large Power Users (69.5 per cent), Mining (22.8 per cent), while Eskom Orange River scooped a share of 3.8 per cent.
The amount of electricity sold on the domestic market stood at 288 780 MWh, up from 282 149 MWh and 297 400 MWh recorded in the preceding month and the corresponding month of 2021, respectively.
Despite low generation, the country has exported some of its power in May 2022, equivalent to 22 849 MWh of electricity.
A bulk of this export was sold to SAPP, accounting for 58.7 per cent of electricity exported, followed by Angola (23.8 per cent), while Botswana Power Corp accounted for 15.2 per cent.
Email: erastus@thevillager.com.na
