Namibia’s Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, says Namibia will remain unaffected by recent power cuts experienced in Zambia, a key supplier of electricity to the country.
Zambia has been experiencing power cuts, and it is reported that ZESCO Limited would import 218 megawatts (MW) of electricity at a cost of US$19 million from Eskom in South Africa and Zimbabwe Power Company to offset the anticipated loss of 135MW when Maamba Collieries Limited undergoes mandatory maintenance at the end of this month.
According to Alweendo, while the situation in Zambia highlights the potential vulnerabilities of relying on external power sources, Namibia’s current power supply remains stable.
“Zambia has recently restored power exports to us. This appears to be due to increased water levels, allowing them to continue supplying electricity and we are still getting it from Eskom,” he said.
He further emphasised the importance of accelerating local power production to further strengthen the country’s energy independence.
The Minister said by reducing reliance on external suppliers, Namibia can enhance its resilience to future challenges and ensure a stable power supply for its citizens and businesses.
“We face the risk of fluctuating prices or supply disruptions from our power importers. To gain control over our energy security, we must prioritise increasing our own power generation,” Alweendo said.
Namibia imports around 180 MW from Zambia after NamPower secured an additional 80MW from the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) in April 2022, under a 10-year power supply agreement reported to be worth N$8.5 billion (US$500 million).
Namibia imports some 60% of its electricity needs from neighbouring countries in its quest to meet the country’s daily energy demands, averaging 750MW.
