NamPower takes over rural electricity in

NamPower and the Khomas Regional Council have entered into an agreement for the power utility to take over the operation and maintenance of the region's rural electricity network until the Central Regional Electricity Distribution Company (Central RED) becomes operational. According to Khomas governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua, the regional council has been struggling to maintain and operate the regional power network. She said although the regional council was dedicated to the provision of electricity to rural communities, it did not have the technical capacity to run these networks. McLeod-Katjirua said there had been investment in the development of new electricity distribution infrastructure in Windhoek, reinforcing existing networks in built-up areas and establishing new networks in un-serviced areas. “The introduction of additional capacity and network reconfiguration is being done in order to improve reliability, guaranteeing system security, accommodating changes in electricity demand, population shifts and ensuring quality of power supply.” During the previous financial year, the City of Windhoek completed a multimillion-dollar project to provide water and sewerage connections to recently formalised plots in the low-income area of Havana. A similar project will follow in identified areas in Otjomuise, Katutura and Havana. “There is, however, a substantial cost associated with these projects and it can only be done as financial resources become available,” said McLeod-Katjirua. According to her the City of Windhoek is also investigating the possibility of expanding the utilisation of the Windhoek Aquifer.This is in line with the City's aim to deliver sufficient water of an acceptable quality to all its residents.McLeod-Katjirua said after the recent hepatitis E outbreak in some informal areas, emergency funding of N$50 million was provided for sanitation and better access to clean drinking water.“The Infrastructure, Water and Technical Services Department is busy with a project to geo-reference all standpipes. This will allow for better and more cost-effective planning and installations focusing on areas that have none to very little coverage.”She said the City had spent about N$4.1 million since January 2018 on the construction of more than 18 km of pipelines aimed at improving access to drinking water in the informal areas of the Moses //Garoëb and Samora Machel constituencies.As part of its Hepatitis E and Listeriosis Project, the City is installing 370 standpipes to provide safe drinking water, as well as providing an additional 88 toilets in these informal areas.Under its Strategic Funding for Financial Sustainability, the City of Windhoek had secured funding to the tune of N$40 million for its Township Development Fund. But because of the hepatitis E and listeriosis outbreaks, the money meant for the proposed development of informal townships (Okahandja Park A, B, C, D and Onyika) was redirected to accelerate the provision of basic services and mitigate the immediate health risks associated with the outbreak. To this end, a number of initiatives were implemented.“As this emergency situation is within the City's jurisdiction, curbing of the outbreak largely depends on the City to provide adequate access to sanitation, improved hygiene and safe water,” said McLeod-Katjirua.In response to the outbreak the City of Windhoek Hepatitis E Outbreak Emergency Response Plan was developed and is currently being implemented. The City Council at its meeting held on 31 January 2018 approved N$32 million for the Hepatitis E Outbreak Response Plan, with N$17 million allocated for 2017 and N$15 million allocated for 2018.ELLANIE SMIT

NamPower takes over rural electricity in

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-15

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NamPower takes over rural electricity in

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-15

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