KARIBIB – As part of its mandate to increase access to electricity among low income consumers, electricity distributor for the Erongo Region, Erongo RED, connected 155 homes in Omaruru, Usakos and Karibib to the local electricity grid last week.
The electrification of the houses is estimated to have cost about N$2.5 million. A total of 51 households in Omaruru were connected to the local grid, 72 houses in Usakos in the Hakhaseb location and 32 houses in Karibib.
The electrification of low income homes is done in line with the company’s initiative to bring electricity to the people as well the country’s rural electrification drive.
Speaking during a ceremony held in Karibib on Friday, Erongo RED board member Ernst Weather said access to electricity remains one of the challenges encountered by consumers and also remains a priority that needs urgent attention from Erongo RED to achieve vision 2030.
“Hence Erongo RED has taken up the challenge to address this matter by adopting a robust strategy to have electricity accessible to all by 2020. This is an enormous task which cannot be achieved without the concerted effort and support of all stakeholders,” he said.
He then explained that Erongo RED started in 2013,with a project called “power to the people”.
He added that the purpose of this project is to connect the unconnected within the distributer’s jurisdiction.
“The electrification of these houses is a demonstration of our determination to empower our community by bringing electricity to them. Although, progress is being made with regard to the electrification, there are still a lot of people who still do not have access to electricity especially in the informal settlements. We have taken note of it and are fully aware of the plight of these people. We are currently looking at possible and workable solutions on how to bring electricity to them,” he explained.
Weather then said that plans are also in an advance stage for rural electrification.
“We have identified 4 rural communities to be electrified which are Otjimbingwe and surrounding areas, Okamapuku, Otjohorongo and Okombahe,” he said.