Emerging Markets Energy Services Company (Emesco) says it has started construction work at the 5.4MW Rosh Pinah Solar Park (RPSP).
The solar park, owned and managed by two Namibian entities, Otesa Energy Projects, the majority shareholder, and Emesco Energy (Namibia), is expected to meet the operational energy requirements of Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation (RPZC)
According to the joint venture agreement, Otesa Energy Projects will construct the plant, while Emesco will develop the plant.
The establishment of Rosh Pinah Solar Park is expected to reduce the cost of energy to run the mine, diversify its sources of energy and improve its sustainability, and comes at a time when RPZC is in the process of expanding its operations, a process which will require additional supplies of electricity.
According to the project’s environmental scoping report, the development entails the construction and operation of a PV photovoltaic solar power plant to the extent of 80 hactares (ha), which consists of the energy generation component and transmission component, being overhead power lines.
The solar farm is planned to be constructed and developed in phases, with 15 ha targeted in phase one, 20 ha in phase two and 45 ha in phase three, with targeted capacity of 14.6 MW.
The project has secured funding from the Development Bank of Namibia, financed using the Bank’s Climate Adaptation Facility.
The DBN has to date funded renewable projects in the country valued at N$1.231 billion, the latest being N$193 million provided to Anirep Aussenkjerr Solar One to finance the construction of the 20MW Khan solar plant.
Namibia is a net importer of electricity from South Africa and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). In December 2021, the country generated 89,054 Megawatt hours (MWh) but had to import 263,899 MWh.
