N$37m desalination plant for Bethanie

A pilot desalination plant was inaugurated at Bethanie on Friday to improve and treat poor-quality groundwater, which deteriorates due to climate change. The construction of the plant – to the tune of N$37 million - commenced in October 2020 and was completed in October 2021. It is designed to produce 487 cubic meters of product water a day to meet the demand of the village until 2037. The desalination plant is powered by standalone hybrid renewable energy.Deputy minister of agriculture Anna Shiweda said it is projected that groundwater quality will further deteriorate because of climate change and variability. “Namibia is an arid country, and consequently, its water resources are very scarce. In most instances, the available quality water resources are often located very far from the people. To bring quality water to the people requires investment in expensive long-distance water distribution and associated infrastructure.” Shiweda added that to improve the water quality, resources found near the people - which is mainly groundwater - also require investment in expensive and energy-consuming treatment processes called membrane technology (desalination) to reduce the concentration of contaminants, which are not good for human consumption. Complex“These membranes and renewable energy technologies are very complex to operate in the context of water treatment and supply, and thus require piloting and research in order to inform our decisions and to replicate such decisions in other areas with similar groundwater quality challenges.” According to her, the investment made in the facility will result in the supply of quality water to the Bethanie community, while the NamWater research team will assess the performance of these technologies to inform future water strategies, policies and decision-making on improving the quality of water from poor groundwater sources. Shiweda added that this pilot project will ascertain the cost associated with desalination of groundwater and this will be compared with the cost of long-distance pipelines.Adapting to climate changeNamWater CEO Abraham Nehemia said the supply of water of the right quantity and quality must be sustainable to ensure uninterrupted water service to the entire population and their associated economic and social activities. “This is our second desalination plant using hybrid renewable energy and membrane technology to improve and treat poor quality groundwater.”He added that the Bethanie desalination plant’s aim is to enhance Namibia’s ability to adapt to the effects of climate change from a technological perspective and to address the negative social and health implications associated with the consumption of poor-quality groundwater among many rural communities. Once successfully implemented, the concept will be replicated to other areas of Namibia found to face similar groundwater quality challenges and which are not connected to the national electricity grid.AimsAccording to Nehemia, the projects places a high emphasis on environmental, social and gender aspects and not purely on issues of a technical nature only. The main objectives of the project are to acquire knowledge and skills on how to effectively and efficiently desalinate poor quality groundwater on a small scale using reverse osmosis and hybrid renewable energy technology.It also aims to positively impact the lives of vulnerable individuals and communities by supplying good quality water and raising awareness on the effects of climate change.Lastly, the project aims to communicate the acquired knowledge and skills to stakeholders in the water supply sector and thereby promote the mainstreaming of such small-scale desalination technology and systems in the country.Development partners include the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia and the environment ministry, which facilitated the mobilisation of funds from the adaptation fund.

N$37m desalination plant for Bethanie

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-07

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N$37m desalination plant for Bethanie

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-07

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