Industries, Mines and Energy Minister Modestus Amutse has called on all Regional Electricity Distributors to ensure that electricity is reliable, affordable, and accessible to all citizens by 2028, regardless of their economic status.

Amutse gave the deadline at a meeting with NORED board members and senior management at Ondangwa.

The discussions focused on tariff applications, delays in electricity connections, and service delivery.

The meeting was prompted by complaints from consumers regarding the high cost of household connections and consumption tariffs.

"In our strategic plan, we must see what we can do to make services affordable to the people because if we are talking about accessibility, we are not talking about only rich people; we are talking about every person having the same right of accessibility to energy. That same constitutional right, if it is to be exercised by every person, then the same opportunity must prevail. Now you find that only CEOs can afford electricity," said Amutse.

He further stressed that electricity is a basic necessity, especially in rural areas, where it supports businesses, education, healthcare, and community development.

He urged NORED to take practical steps to improve efficiency and affordability.

He also pointed out the need to improve reliability, particularly during the rainy season, noting reports of frequent power outages that leave communities in darkness for days.

Additionally, the minister called for the timely maintenance of streetlights, saying faulty and unrepaired lights pose a safety risk to the public.

He pointed out government efforts to make electricity accessible to everyone.

"We know that the ministry has a programme where we subsidise electricity to an extent where we allow people to partake in a soft loan programme, where they apply for solar systems for their domestic use but also for industrial use, especially for small-scale businesses."

NORED Chief Executive Officer Silvester Wayiti assured the minister that the electricity distributor will improve service delivery.

"The issue of accessibility is a key priority concern, and we take note of that, and in fact at NORED, in our distribution and supply aspects in terms of affordability, we are looking at ways to reduce and optimise costs to look at these costs and apply options for us to achieve and pass the benefit of cheaper tariffs to the end user."