…public welcome
WINDHOEK – The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics, Natural Resources and Public Administration is to host a two-day conference on renewable energy sources in Namibia, it announced yesterday.
The two-day conference would take place in Windhoek in the National Assembly chambers next week Monday and Tuesday. “It will be attended by more than 250 people including international and local experts on renewable energy sources, said the chairperson of the committee, Ben Amathila, at a press conference yesterday in the capital. According to him nine companies have also been invited to exhibit their products in the courtyard of the National Assembly.
Amathila said having visited local power generating projects in Namibia such as the Ruacana Hydro Power Station, Tsumkwe and also some in Germany the committee tabled a report in the National Assembly and its recommendations were adopted. He said one of the recommendations adopted was that the committee should organise an information-sharing session for all Members of Parliament on renewable energy sources and on how Namibia can become a renewable energy producer.
He further said one of the functions of the parliamentary standing committee is to promote economic development, natural resource management and public administration in the country. “The committee has an oversight function over ten ministries and associate institutions,” he added. According to him the aim of the conference is to share information, knowledge and experience on opportunities that renewable energy can offer in sourcing low-carbon electricity and to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and how Namibia can optimally utilise the resources. “The participation has been widened to include members of the public in accordance with Rule 44 (2e) of the Rules and Orders of the National Assembly,” he further explained. Among the topics to be discussed is the current status of the energy sector in Namibia, energy options available in Namibia, the Independent Power Producer (IPP) framework and its current status, as well as success stories and challenges experienced in the enrgy sector. Current local power generation capacity is limited in Namibia and additional electricity is imported from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zambia.
By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa