Major progress is taking shape in setting up the Otjiwarongo Biomass Power Plant.

This was confirmed by Otjiwarongo Municipality's Economic Development Manager, Petros Kuteeue, during a courtesy call to Otjozondjupa Regional Governor, James Uerikua, with the German delegation on biomass and renewable energy.

Kuteeue says despite previous delays, progress has been made ahead of the commissioning at the 93-hectare Biomass Industrial Park, where tonnes of wood chips, charcoal, char briquettes, biofuel, and biochar will be produced.

Youth from the Otjozondjupa Region were engaged by the agency responsible for engaging in scholarships for Namibia's green hydrogen project.

The Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) is the implementing body, and it encourages young people to apply for the programme.

SASSCAL administrator Nikanor Nakaleke explained that, while green hydrogen scholarships were open to everyone last year, the Education Ministry this year looks to capacitate the youth in particular.

Drought relief assistance and livestock support programmes for thousands of vulnerable and affected communities and farmers in the Otjozondjupa Region will be distributed from the beginning of October until June 2024.

This was announced by the Otjozondjupa Regional Governor, James Uerikua, who says the council will monitor closely to ensure there is no wastage of food aid or communities not able to access the aid.

At the Gam Settlement, about 100 kilometres from Tsumkwe, community members flocked in large numbers to register for food and livestock assistance.

Otavi Town Council has launched its three-month mass clean-up campaign to help it create a sustainable waste management system that will ensure a clean environment that is appealing to investors.

The town council will be joined by volunteers during the daily clean-up campaign.

Otjozondjupa Governor James Uerikua officially launched the campaign.

Otjozondjupa Governor James Uerikua has called upon the local authorities to fast-track the delivery of land and housing for the men and women in uniform.

Uerikua made this call during the State of the Region Address at Otjiwarongo.

Lack of housing is the greatest challenge faced by men and women in uniform, as only a few have managed to acquire houses through various means.

The Police in the Otjozondjupa Region have called on the inhabitants to continue cooperating with law enforcement agencies to curb criminal activities.

Otjozondjupa Police Commander Commissioner Henrich Tjiveze made this call during an outreach awareness campaign on drug law enforcement in Otjiwarongo.

The outreach campaign, which was mainly attended by children, aims to educate members of the public on the impact and consequences of engaging in criminal activities.

Canadian-owned Northern Graphite Mine has retrenched 32 employees by giving them a verbal notice followed by a written notice of retrenchment from Country Director, Sam Januarie.

Their notices were issued today, and their last working day is July 31, 2023.

The employees who received the notices visited Otjozondjupa Governor James Uerikua and Chairperson of the Regional Council Marlayn Mbakera, who invited Januarie and Labour Commissioner Kleofas Gaingob.