Vandalism forces desalination plant offline
Sabotage, theft threatens vital services within region
The Erongo Desalination Plant was forced offline twice in recent days after vandalism on NamPower’s transmission lines cut electricity supply to the facility, disrupting water provision to the region for nearly four days.
The latest incident began on 12 September when power lines were damaged, leaving the plant without electricity. NamPower technicians restored the line on Sunday, 14 September, allowing operations to resume.
Swakopmund municipality issued an urgent notice during the outage, warning residents of reduced NamWater supply and urging households to conserve water. Residents were asked to avoid watering gardens, limit showers and reduce other water use until services normalised.
“Orano Mining Namibia is very concerned about the vandalism on the NamPower electricity infrastructure that caused a total shutdown of the Erongo Desalination Plant twice recently, resulting in close to four days\' loss of water supply to the Erongo region," said Christine de Klerk, spokesperson for Orano Mining Namibia, operator of the desalination plant.
"This interrupted water supply to NamWater customers, including the local authorities and mining industry, with negative consequences for all.”
She said the company continues to work closely with both NamPower and NamWater to find a sustainable long-term solution.
Multiple cases
The shutdown comes against the backdrop of a series of copper theft and infrastructure sabotage cases in the region.
Last month, Erongo RED reported that ten electricity poles on its Ruby line near Dune 7 had been cut in two separate incidents, with 3.2 kilometres of copper conductor stolen. The utility warned that repeated vandalism disrupts water provision, telecommunication and power supply, with significant economic consequences.
In a separate incident in June, NamWater reported vandalism and theft on the Ruby Main overhead powerline affecting power to Swartbank and Rooibank boreholes, which disrupted water supply to the Walvis Bay community.
The latest incident began on 12 September when power lines were damaged, leaving the plant without electricity. NamPower technicians restored the line on Sunday, 14 September, allowing operations to resume.
Swakopmund municipality issued an urgent notice during the outage, warning residents of reduced NamWater supply and urging households to conserve water. Residents were asked to avoid watering gardens, limit showers and reduce other water use until services normalised.
“Orano Mining Namibia is very concerned about the vandalism on the NamPower electricity infrastructure that caused a total shutdown of the Erongo Desalination Plant twice recently, resulting in close to four days\' loss of water supply to the Erongo region," said Christine de Klerk, spokesperson for Orano Mining Namibia, operator of the desalination plant.
"This interrupted water supply to NamWater customers, including the local authorities and mining industry, with negative consequences for all.”
She said the company continues to work closely with both NamPower and NamWater to find a sustainable long-term solution.
Multiple cases
The shutdown comes against the backdrop of a series of copper theft and infrastructure sabotage cases in the region.
Last month, Erongo RED reported that ten electricity poles on its Ruby line near Dune 7 had been cut in two separate incidents, with 3.2 kilometres of copper conductor stolen. The utility warned that repeated vandalism disrupts water provision, telecommunication and power supply, with significant economic consequences.
In a separate incident in June, NamWater reported vandalism and theft on the Ruby Main overhead powerline affecting power to Swartbank and Rooibank boreholes, which disrupted water supply to the Walvis Bay community.
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