Ndaitwah brothers get N$612m solar power licence

Businessman Tate Nande Ndaitwah has confirmed that a company he co-owns with his brothers has been granted a licence to develop a 20 MW solar project - believed to be worth about N$612 million - that would supply power to the Tsumeb smelter operations of Chinese mining giant Sinomine Resource Group.

Documents seen by Namibian Sun show that Ndaitwah, a son of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, is listed as director and shareholder of Massaus and Titan Energy Solutions (Pty) Ltd, the company behind the project.

Electricity Control Board (ECB) chief executive officer Robert Kahimise confirmed that the licence application was received on 11 September 2025.

Kahimise said the ECB recommended the application to the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy on 12 December 2025, before it was approved on 26 January 2026.

“The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy approved the project on 26 January 2026, and the matter was subsequently returned to the ECB for the issuing of the licence on 03 February 2026,” Kahimise told NMH.

“The generation licence was issued to Massaus and Titan Energy Solutions (Pty) Ltd on 12 February 2026.”

According to Kahimise, the final licence approved a total installed capacity of 23.03 MWp, slightly larger than the initial 20 MW outlined in the environmental filing.

Mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse had been in office for only 10 days when the ECB recommendation reached the ministry.

‘No interference’

Claims that pressure was exerted from senior levels of government to fast-track the application could not be independently verified.

Kahimise denied any interference in the process.

“No communication, directives, or interventions from senior government officials were received by the ECB in relation to this application during the evaluation process,” he said.

Namibian Sun has seen the environmental scoping and management report submitted by Massaus and Titan Energy Solutions to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in March 2025.

The report describes a solar park covering 40 hectares within the Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb licence area in the Oshikoto Region, with an estimated value of N$612 million.

“The proponent intends to install approximately 130 000 solar panels on a maximum land area of 40 hectares to generate about 20 MW of green energy,” the report states.

Ndaitwah signed the document on 31 March 2025.

The report further noted that the company intended to supply electricity directly to the Sinomine Tsumeb Smelter operations, avoiding the need for a separate transmission line to the Oshikoto substation.

Sinomine Resource Group acquired the Tsumeb copper smelter from Canadian company Dundee Precious Metals in 2024 for N$930 million.

Ndaitwah responds

Ndaitwah confirmed to Namibian Sun that he is both a director and shareholder in Massaus alongside his two brothers.

“This is a lawfully registered private company, one of thousands operating across Namibia and globally. There is nothing extraordinary about its existence or structure. This is my first plant and I plan on developing more in the future,” he said.

He stressed that the project is entirely private, carries no government funding and involves no government off-take agreement.

“Our only engagement with government relates to regulatory requirements such as permits, licences and compliance with standard industry regulations,” he said.

Ndaitwah said the company began developing the project in late 2024.

He also rejected suggestions that the approval was linked to his position as a member of the first family.

“Every Namibian, regardless of their family, has the right to participate in this country’s economy,” he said.

No oil interest

Ndaitwah and his brother, Ndelitungapo Ndaitwah, previously denied involvement in the oil and gas sector following allegations raised earlier this year by IPC leader Panduleni Itula. The accusations emerged in light of current efforts to place the oil and gas mandate under the Office of the President.

At the time, the Presidency stated that President Nandi-Ndaitwah and her children held “no ownership, beneficial interest, or stake in the oil and gas industry”.

Earlier this year, the president also defended her children’s right to participate in the economy.

“They do so to contribute to national development, the well-being of our people and their own lawful livelihoods,” she said.

Meanwhile, former ECB board chairperson Evangeline Nailenge resigned from her position effective 31 March 2026, nearly two years before the end of her term.

Her resignation letter, dated 11 March 2026 and seen by this publication, did not provide reasons for her departure.