Namibia’s Electricity Control Board (ECB) has unveiled a new regulatory framework aimed at fast-tracking small-scale power projects by reducing administrative requirements for generators of up to 2 megawatts (MW) and specialised pilot projects.
The move comes as small-scale energy innovators in Namibia have previously been subject to the same licensing conditions as large-scale utility power plants.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement, ECB Senior Financial and Market Analyst Tonateni Amukutuwa said a key pillar of the initiative is support for pilot and demonstration projects of up to 5 MW.
This category is intended to encourage experimentation with emerging technologies, including green hydrogen.
“The objective of this initiative is to introduce a light-handed regulatory approach to the licensing of smaller embedded generators and pilot projects. While doing so, we will fully safeguard the ECB’s statutory mandate to ensure electricity security, system reliability, consumer protection and orderly industry development. Our focus is on developing simplified, fit-for-purpose licence conditions and application forms aligned with the Electricity Act and applicable rules, codes and regulations,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, ECB consultant Jackie Scholtz explained that the lighter regulatory approach specifically targets projects with minimal impact on public electricity pricing.
This includes systems exceeding 500 kVA used for own consumption, as well as third-party rooftop installations where private investors supply solar energy directly to a single consumer.
The framework also covers off-grid distribution and supply projects of up to 1 MW, standby generation used for emergency backup, and “willing buyer, willing seller” models.
These private transactions are prioritised for deregulation because they do not affect national tariffs or public pricing, allowing the ECB to step back from strict economic oversight while still ensuring technical safety.
“The intention here is to keep these categories within the regulatory ambit, but to simplify the application process. By doing so, we can adopt a lighter regulatory approach toward these projects and operators, a strategy designed to decrease the overall regulatory burden,” she said.
Despite the shift towards deregulation, the ECB emphasised that the framework does not bypass existing legislation. All projects must still comply with the Electricity Act, including the mandatory 30-day public objection period.
The ECB said the primary objective is economic deregulation, noting that projects which do not affect public pricing will no longer be subject to strict regulation of internal tariffs or business plans.
