The Electricity Control Board (ECB) has formally submitted recommendations to the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, calling for the urgent development of a base load power plant in Namibia.
ECB Chief Executive Officer Robert Kahimise said the Board had made a formal submission to the Office of the Minister, highlighting the critical role such a plant would play in stabilising and enhancing the country’s electricity supply security.
“Namibia urgently needs to develop a base load power plant, as our current reliance on intermittent renewable energy sources,mainly solar, creates supply gaps outside of sunshine hours,” Kahimise told Namibia Mining & Energy.
He noted that, apart from biomass generation by NamPower, most renewable sources do not provide continuous power. As a result, NamPower is often forced to seek alternative sources to meet demand during non-generating periods.
Base load power, Kahimise explained, refers to a steady and reliable supply available 24 hours a day, regardless of weather conditions or time of day.
“It serves as the minimum amount of electricity needed consistently over long periods to meet national demand. The ECB believes that establishing a base load power plant will result in cheaper, locally generated electricity compared to our current dependence on imports,” he said.
The ECB further argued that government financial support should prioritise capital investment in such infrastructure, rather than subsidising the operational costs of licensees.
This approach, the Board believes, will offer a sustainable solution to the dual challenges of reliability and affordability in Namibia’s power sector.
In addition to building a base load plant, the ECB advocates for strengthening the national transmission infrastructure.
“Improved transmission capacity will enable the evacuation of local generation, unlock additional generation potential, and support Namibia’s export ambitions—areas where the Board has already issued multiple export licences,” said Kahimise.
He reiterated the ECB’s position from last year, stressing the need to move away from relying on imports as the country’s base load power source.
This comes as the new government administration has prioritised the exploration of nuclear power, which the ECB identifies as a viable base load option.
Kahimise emphasised that the ECB is not advocating for any specific energy source, but rather for the inclusion of a reliable base load component in Namibia’s overall energy mix.
“What is different now, in terms of the priorities and key strategic projects of our new administration, is that they have prioritised the exploration of a nuclear power plant. A nuclear power plant qualifies as a base load power plant,” he said.
This comes as Namibia’s national peak electricity demand stands at just under 700 MW, with renewable energy currently contributing around 30% of the total energy mix.
