MARIENTAL – Deputy energy minister Kornelia Shilunga on Tuesday officiated at electrification of 115 households in the informal residential area of Maltahöhe.

Another 21 households in the August Dam and Kries settlements also received electricity.

The inauguration event was held at the open field in the Vaalkamp informal settlement in Maltahöhe.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy collaborated with NamPower and local authorities in the Hardap region to provide electricity at these informal areas.

The costs of providing electricity for the 115 households in Maltahöhe was approximately N$3.3 million and approximately N$3.2 million for the 21 households in August Dam and Kries.

Shilunga highlighted the government’s dedication to advancing rural electrification in the southern Hardap and ||Kharas regions.

“For the 2025/2026 financial year, we have allocated N$12 million for electrification in Hardap and ||Kharas, with a focus on peri-urban localities. We are in negotiations with NamPower to supplement this budget and are exploring additional funds from the National Energy Fund and development partners,” she stated.

She urged the communities of Hardap to seize the opportunity and work together to harness the power of electricity by building businesses, improve education and enhance healthcare.

-Nampa