A N$10 million project to establish the Kongola to Masambo powerline and the electrification of the Masambo Primary School in the Zambezi Region has been commissioned.
The projects were initially budgeted to cost N$3.62 million, but they have been increased due to the distance from the power line.
The Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, emphasised the government's commitment to ensuring that remote areas receive electricity.
The electrification of Masambo Primary School in the Kwe San community includes the construction of the power line, connecting the school and teachers' houses as well as the conservancy office to electricity.
The efforts are aligned with the Ministry's broader goal of achieving universal access to electricity by 2040.
"Electrification goes beyond providing light; it unlocks the socio-economic potential of every community member. It's about improving lives by providing access to services, supporting education, and boosting businesses; it inspires imagination, fuels curiosity, and fosters innovation and critical thinking; it symbolises hope, progress, and responsible infrastructure; and it enhances the quality of life for all, ensuring no one is left behind."
Alweendo says electrification of public buildings is nearing completion, with a focus among others being schools and clinics by the end of the 2025–26 financial year.
Preparations are also on to electrify ten schools in flood-prone areas in the Zambezi Region for N$14.10 million.
Groundwork has also been done to electrify households, which will come at N$3.7 million.
The region will also benefit from grant funding from the German Government for peri-urban electrification in Choto Ext. 7 and 8 at N$22 million.
"The expansion and modernisation of infrastructure will drive economic growth, trade, and innovation. However, achieving these goals requires a resilient and inclusive financial infrastructure that supports entrepreneurship and the production of goods and services for Namibians."
NORED Acting Chief Executive Officer, Toiva Shovaleka, noted the high demand for electricity in rural and peri-urban areas nationwide.
"The successful completion and implementation of this electrification project by the Ministry of Mines and Energy is commendable; it provides for access to households, public institutions, and communities situated between Kongola and Masambo to the national grid and eventually will increase the electrification rate in the region."
Requests have been forwarded to the Zambezi Regional Council to extend the powerline to Ndoro Memorial Secondary School and Chetto Combined School.