Tsumkwe to Get Solar Power

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Catherine Sasman 24 June 2011 Prime Minister Nahas Angula said the national policy on climate change for Namibia should be reviewed to place it within the global framework of political, developmental, and technological interests. "The policy needs a lot to be desired and needs to be reviewed," suggested Angula in Parliament on Wednesday as the debate on the policy continued. What the policy does do, is to acknowledge that climate change in all its complexities impacts on all sectors, particularly the agricultural and fisheries sectors, with adverse effects on livelihoods and profound health and welfare implications.

New Era (Windhoek)

Albertina Nakale

27 June 2011

Tsumkwe — Tsumkwe is set to have solar energy by 2012.

The envisioned solar project is part of the poverty reduction programme that seeks to provide enabling physical infrastructure to support increased and diversified socio-economic activities in the constituency.

The project that commenced in 2008 will cost N$26 million.

Tsumkwe energy project manager, Abraham Angula, said Tsumkwe is one of the largest off-grid settlements located 300 km from the desert, making it a suitable access point.

Currently, Tsumkwe faces power shortages as well as perennial water shortages. Its power is supplied through a diesel generator, which is shut down every night at 22h00.

The diesel-powered generator operates for 16 hours per day.

The regional council charges consumers N$4.50 per unit.

By September 2010, the council recorded an outstanding N$6.2 million debt by credit meter clients.

National grid electrification for Tsumkwe was estimated at between N$80 million and N$90 million last year.

“The project will be operating all essential loads for 24 hours, and will be operated and maintained by the Otjozondjupa Regional Council. It will supported by an independent service provider. We want to extend the mini-grid to cater for all people,” explained the project manager.

The project’s contracting authority is the European Commission-ACP EU Energy facility.

Its strategic partners are NamPower and the Otjozondjupa Regional Council.

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Tsumkwe to Get Solar Power