By Charles Tjatindi
Windhoek
Namibia is making great strides in the provision of electricity to its rural communities through the Rural Electrification Programme. The programme, which started in 1991, has seen many villages and settlements receiving electricity.
By the end of 2003, villages in the maize triangle of Otavi, Grootfontein and Tsumeb; Kalkfeld, Stampriet, and Okangwati, amongst others, had already been added to NamPower’s electricity grid.
Despite a reduction in the anticipated N$50 million per year for the programme to between N$20 and N$30 million, the Rural Electrification Programme continues to electrify Namibian villages. Currently, 17% of villages and settlements have been added to the national electricity grid.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy has set a target of 25% by the year 2010.
The Rural Electrification Programme was initiated with the aim of making electricity accessible to the rural population of the country, and to provide opportunities for economic development.
The programme’s master plan identifies areas to be electrified during a specific year. The final selections of the villages are then made in consultation with the respective regional councillors of the concerned regions.
“The funds available for a given region also play an important role during the selection process,” said Rosa Thobias, spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
Thobias noted that the distance between communities and the lack of infrastructure to access the national grid have posed a challenge.
“For this reason, we consider both grid and off-grid electrification options and include all 13 regions. We mainly prioritize economically active centres like schools, clinics, businesses and government institutions.” A mere 30% of the rural population has access to electricity, compared to 85% of households in urban areas.
Namibia is highly dependent on electricity imports from South Africa, as generation in the country has become increasingly difficult due to coal import prices. Experts predict that the electrical sector in Namibia has the potential to become the driving force behind economic development. The rural electrification programme aims to electrify over 250 000 households in order to improve social conditions by 2010.