Construction of the Otjikoto Biomass Power Station outside Tsumeb is progressing, although the project is running behind its initial schedule.

The N$2.6 project, which started in 2024, is now expected to be completed next year in December.

The 40-megawatt facility is currently in phase one and, once completed, will use encroacher bush to generate electricity for the next 30 years.

Otjikoto Biomass Power Station Project Manager, Tangeni Shivute, said, "We are near the end of the foundation phase, and then we will start the main erection phase, where most of the buildings' walls and roofs will go up, and next year we expect to take more than a year to do the mechanical and electrical completions, so that's on the construction side. On the fuel supply side, we appointed four of our fuel suppliers who will harvest on behalf of farmers, and then next year we will go and appoint farmers who are looking to supply NamPower directly."

The power station is the first NamPower biomass plant funded by the French Development Agency with two billion dollars, while the government provided N$400 million. 

Additional support is being provided through the Mitigation Action Facility, with the French fund for the global environment providing funding for technical support and capacity building.

NamPower is also working towards obtaining Forest Stewardship Council certification to ensure that biomass harvesting meets recognised sustainable forestry standards.

"If we do achieve our certification, which we are very hopeful for, it will be the first FSC-to-electricity project in the world, which I think Namibia can be quite proud of. It shows the international community what we are doing, and harvesting the encroached bush and generating electricity from that is being done in an environmentally sustainable way."

The plant will require about 245,000 tonnes of wood chips annually, with the collection and transportation of the biomass expected to create opportunities for local businesses.

Otjituo Community has been identified as the first pilot community, with engagements continuing on additional sites.

Once completed, the plant is expected to generate approximately 300 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, providing a stable source of power to complement Namibia's growing solar and wind generation.

The project has surpassed the anticipated 300 job creations, with 100 more jobs created through various contractors.

Once completed, the Otjikoto Biomass Power Plant will be the third biomass plant in Africa.