The Keetmanshoop Municipality has applied for an N$11.9 million loan from the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) to upgrade its electricity infrastructure. 

This transpired at the presentation of the municipality's ministerial-approved N$296.8 million operational budget to residents on Tuesday.

Khoetage Dax, Keetmanshoop Electricity Business Unit manager, revealed that DBN has approved the loan pending ministerial approval. 

He says the loan will be repaid over a period of ten years. 

"For the DBN loan, we made an application to DDB for N$12,9 million to tackle some of the capital projects for KEBU, and we got approval from DBN for N$11,9 million, but then we still need line ministerial approval from finance and MURD. This loan will be spread over ten years with an affordable repayment period for KEBU, so it is built into the tariff as well."

Dax highlights that the loan money will be spent on LED lighting retrofits and high-musk lighting projects, as well as the installation of a smart metre system to minimise power outages and curb the illegal bypassing of electricity.

"ECB also said we have to implement some power quality systems, so we are busy implementing those, so power quality is basically just as you have with water; your water needs a certain level of quality, so that's the same with electricity; if the quality is not good, some of the electronics will not function, so those are some of the things that we are trying to do with the loan, so hopefully when we get the approval we can kick-off with those projects."