President Nangolo Mbumba has emphasised Namibia's commitment to transitioning from its 100% reliance on fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and thermal energy.
Speaking at the inauguration and renaming ceremony of the 300 million Khan Solar Power Plant to Moses Mague ||Garoëb Solar Plant, Dr. Mbumba outlined the strategic shift as part of Namibia's contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving global carbon neutrality by 2050.
The new 25 MW solar plant, located 45 kilometres outside Usakos in the Erongo Region, marks a significant step in Namibia's decarbonisation efforts.
The solar plant will supply electricity to the national grid to power at least 18,500 homes or three small towns.
Mbumba stated that this is a concrete step towards fulfilling the noble decarbonisation goal.
The launch of the plant, he said, aligns with Namibia's quest for energy sufficiency and its commitment to developing new economic sectors, including green hydrogen and green industrialisation.
These sectors are aimed at creating local value, promoting job creation, and driving economic diversification.
President Mbumba also clarified that there is no contradiction between Namibia's efforts to develop its newly discovered oil resources and its decarbonisation agenda.
He emphasised that the country's focus remains on an energy transition, allowing Namibia to move gradually towards renewable energy while integrating oil as part of a diverse energy mix.
"I would like to commend ANIREP and partners, the Usakos Town Council and its' Mayor, as well as both the indigenous and foreign investors, Nampower and the line Ministry of Mines and Energy, for their excellent teamwork, which ensured that the project not only successfully weathered the negative economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic but continued until completion. We commend you for your dedication to economic growth and development in Namibia and wish this substantial investment a resounding success."
Mines and Energy Minister Tom Alweendo said the Moses Mague ||Garoëb Solar Plant represents a major milestone in Namibia's broader efforts to ensure a sustainable, clean energy future.
"Now, this plant, built in collaboration with independent power producers, is a shining example of this private sector's crucial role in strengthening the energy landscape. We must continue to provide an enabling environment that attracts investment into power generation, particularly renewable energy like this one, and also other causes of effective solutions."
The Managing Director of Anirep is Iyaloo ya Nangolo. He explained that "The Khan Solar Plant alone has the capacity to power approximately 18,500 homes, equivalent to three small towns in Namibia. This project is also a remarkable engineering feat, featuring 47,520 bifacial solar modules capable of generating 25 MW per hour of clean energy. These modules are mounted on 877 single-axis tracker tables, connected to 76 string inverters, and linked to five smart transformers. The energy is seamlessly integrated into the national grid via a state-of-the-art 33/66kVA step-up transformer."
NamPower's Managing Director Kahenge Haulofu said the company remains committed to supporting government objectives as set in the national planning policies.
"The Khan 20MW Solar PV IPP and the rest of the renewable energy projects, as mentioned earlier, support Namibia's Energy and Renewable Energy Policy targets for 70% of renewable energy generation by 2030 and global commitments in relation to the reduction of carbon emissions."