By Petronella Sibeene
WINDHOEK
Stakeholders in the energy sector met yesterday in Windhoek to discuss the implementation of a Cabinet directive to install solar water heaters in all government and parastatal buildings. This is one of the proposed energy-saving measures.
Namibia spends N$100-million per year on electricity to heat water.
The Minister of Mines and Energy, Erkki Nghimtina, said during the consultative meeting yesterday that due to economic benefits that come with the use of solar energy, Cabinet approved on June 5 the off-grid energization master plan and solar water heater for all government and parastatal buildings. The Solar Water Heater concept was submitted to cabinet in May 2007.
Nghimtina could not indicate how soon solar heaters will be installed in all government buildings. However, Cabinet agreed that the promotion of solar water heaters should become the automatic choice for water-heating in all its institutions with immediate effect.
This is the second phase of the Namibian Renewable Energy Programme (NAMREP). The second phase will be executed over a three-year period to the tune of about N$70-million.
The funds will be availed through technical assistance by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Global Environment Facility (GEF), among other bilateral partners.
“NAMREP Phase Two will focus on facilitating the implementation of the numerous interventions identified in Phase One,” said the minister.
Nghimtina says the implementation of Cabinet directives requires cross-sectoral and institutional collaboration in terms of budgetary planning and coordination.
“The successful implementation of these two directives will go a long way in contributing to the realization of the White Paper on Energy Policy goals of ensuring security of energy supply, and affordable access to modern energy services,” he said.
NAMREP started in April 2003 to increase affordable access to sustainable energy services, and was funded to the tune of US$5.2-million spread over five years.
The programme deals with the promotion of solar technologies such as solar water heaters, solar home systems and photovoltaic pumps, whose use has increased since the advent of the programme.
Cabinet also approved that all electric geysers be replaced, and that existing buildings without heaters have them installed.
Offices that cannot comply with the directives should seek approval from the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication in consultation with the Ministry of Mines and Energy, said the minister.
Additional Cabinet resolutions are that acquisition and installation of heaters be done through open tender. Also, manufacturing of solar water heaters should be done in Namibia to create employment opportunities and enhance technological know-how of the local masses.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy, through NAMREP and in consultation with relevant stakeholders in 2005, commissioned two studies to determine the viability of solar energy use in the country.
The results were appealing, and positive social impacts and economic benefits for the country would be huge if Namibians could turn to the use of solar energy.
“The use of Solar Water Heaters, according to this latest study, is much more economically viable in comparison to what was revealed in earlier studies. People who use solar for water-heating in their houses as opposed to electric water heaters are much more likely to reduce their electricity bills by up to 50 percent,” said Nghimtina.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Joseph Iita, said it is estimated that there are 97??????’??