Household growth strains power grid as supply fails to keep pace
Namibia is facing mounting pressure on its electricity supply system, with household growth outstripping grid capacity as rapid urbanisation drives up demand.
Speaking at the launch of Mission 300 yesterday – a continent-wide initiative aimed at connecting 300 million people to reliable electricity by 2030 – Abraham Hangula, the energy ministry’s deputy director for energy planning, said Namibia’s electricity access rate has stagnated, showing little improvement over the past seven years.
Hangula said between 2015 and 2016, 47.7% of households had access to electricity, with connection levels at 71% in urban areas, compared to just 19.3% in rural areas.
“By 2022, the national connection rate had slightly declined to 46.9%, even though the total number of households had increased to about 700 000," he said.
Hangula warned that without decisive intervention, the situation would continue to deteriorate.
“Business cannot continue as usual if Namibia is to reverse the drop in electricity access,” he said. “Otherwise, that gap will keep increasing, and I don’t see why it won’t, because that’s the current trend.”
Racing towards 2030
Hangula explained that Namibia’s participation in Mission 300 goes beyond expanding household connections and addresses the full electricity value chain.
“Mission 300 primarily looks at increasing access, but it also recognises that you cannot talk about access alone," he said.
"You need to increase generation, strengthen transmission lines that connect load centres to generation and ensure utilities are viable but well regulated."
He added that private sector participation is critical.
“We need to leverage private sector skills, technical capacity and finance to achieve these goals," Hangula stressed.
Emphasising the urgency, he noted that competition for funding under the initiative is intensifying.
“There are many ambitious countries tapping into this programme. You have to move fast. Ultimately, this funding will be depleted. The race is towards 2030, and countries that are ready are already positioning themselves,” he said.
Hangula also highlighted Africa’s unique electrification challenge.
“This is the only region in the world where the number of people without electricity continues to increase," he pointed out.
"Asia has done exceptionally well and now has fewer than 100 million people without access. Africa, however, continues to see growth in the number of unconnected people,” he said.
Renewable energy sources
Industries, mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse said Namibia’s response is anchored in the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), under which the country has developed a National Energy Compact aligned with national priorities and approved through Cabinet.
“Our goal is to connect at least 200 000 households and achieve 80% electricity self-sufficiency, with 70% of generation coming from renewable energy sources,” Amutse said.
He warned that Namibia currently generates only about 40% of its electricity needs, making diversification urgent.
“We are serious about long-term decarbonisation, affordability and reliability,” he said, highlighting that nuclear energy must be part of the options available to address electricity supply within and beyond Namibia’s borders.
Meet demand affordably
Amutse stressed that expanding access must go hand in hand with strengthening supply.
“Access increases demand, and that demand must be met with reliable, affordable and secure electricity,” he said.
Regional integration, he added, would be key to strengthening Namibia’s energy security. Projects such as the Angola–Namibia interconnector could enhance power trade across southern Africa.
“Hence the importance of Mission 300. It means investing in generation, addressing transmission bottlenecks and unlocking Namibia’s energy potential for the benefit of both the country and the region,” Amutse said, noting that private sector investment would play a central role alongside government-led developmental access initiatives.
Speaking at the launch of Mission 300 yesterday – a continent-wide initiative aimed at connecting 300 million people to reliable electricity by 2030 – Abraham Hangula, the energy ministry’s deputy director for energy planning, said Namibia’s electricity access rate has stagnated, showing little improvement over the past seven years.
Hangula said between 2015 and 2016, 47.7% of households had access to electricity, with connection levels at 71% in urban areas, compared to just 19.3% in rural areas.
“By 2022, the national connection rate had slightly declined to 46.9%, even though the total number of households had increased to about 700 000," he said.
Hangula warned that without decisive intervention, the situation would continue to deteriorate.
“Business cannot continue as usual if Namibia is to reverse the drop in electricity access,” he said. “Otherwise, that gap will keep increasing, and I don’t see why it won’t, because that’s the current trend.”
Racing towards 2030
Hangula explained that Namibia’s participation in Mission 300 goes beyond expanding household connections and addresses the full electricity value chain.
“Mission 300 primarily looks at increasing access, but it also recognises that you cannot talk about access alone," he said.
"You need to increase generation, strengthen transmission lines that connect load centres to generation and ensure utilities are viable but well regulated."
He added that private sector participation is critical.
“We need to leverage private sector skills, technical capacity and finance to achieve these goals," Hangula stressed.
Emphasising the urgency, he noted that competition for funding under the initiative is intensifying.
“There are many ambitious countries tapping into this programme. You have to move fast. Ultimately, this funding will be depleted. The race is towards 2030, and countries that are ready are already positioning themselves,” he said.
Hangula also highlighted Africa’s unique electrification challenge.
“This is the only region in the world where the number of people without electricity continues to increase," he pointed out.
"Asia has done exceptionally well and now has fewer than 100 million people without access. Africa, however, continues to see growth in the number of unconnected people,” he said.
Renewable energy sources
Industries, mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse said Namibia’s response is anchored in the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), under which the country has developed a National Energy Compact aligned with national priorities and approved through Cabinet.
“Our goal is to connect at least 200 000 households and achieve 80% electricity self-sufficiency, with 70% of generation coming from renewable energy sources,” Amutse said.
He warned that Namibia currently generates only about 40% of its electricity needs, making diversification urgent.
“We are serious about long-term decarbonisation, affordability and reliability,” he said, highlighting that nuclear energy must be part of the options available to address electricity supply within and beyond Namibia’s borders.
Meet demand affordably
Amutse stressed that expanding access must go hand in hand with strengthening supply.
“Access increases demand, and that demand must be met with reliable, affordable and secure electricity,” he said.
Regional integration, he added, would be key to strengthening Namibia’s energy security. Projects such as the Angola–Namibia interconnector could enhance power trade across southern Africa.
“Hence the importance of Mission 300. It means investing in generation, addressing transmission bottlenecks and unlocking Namibia’s energy potential for the benefit of both the country and the region,” Amutse said, noting that private sector investment would play a central role alongside government-led developmental access initiatives.
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