Sunlight empowers informal electrification

Last week, a high-level delegation of visiting European Union parliamentarians travelled to Olutweni in the DRC informal settlement in Swakopmund to witness the positive impact EU funding has on the lives of some of Namibia’s underprivileged citizens.Led by EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, and the Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Development, Barry Andrews, the delegation also included eight senior committee members and representatives of the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly.Today, 32 impoverished households in the DRC informal settlement have access to light and electricity at the flick of a switch, thanks to Namibia’s abundant sunshine and generous support from across the globe.The initiative, known as Towards an Inclusive Design of the Renewable Energy Transition (TIDRET), is an EU-funded programme that provides renewable energy access to rural and peri-urban communities by electrifying households and establishing solar mini-grids. Its activities, such as connecting homes and launching a solar mini-grid in Puros, aim to achieve universal energy access by 2030 and support Namibia’s transition to a green economy. TIDRET forms part of the broader EU-Namibia partnership on sustainable development.Funded to the value of €4.7 million - €3.8 million from the EU and about €900 000 from the German government - the project has already electrified hundreds of households across Namibia, including in the Erongo, Otjozondjupa and Kunene regions.Lighting upIn Swakopmund’s DRC settlement, beneficiaries were identified in cooperation with the Shack Dwellers Association of Namibia. Many of the low-income working homeowners, although in legal possession of their erven, could not afford the high cost of electrical installations needed to connect to the grid.According to project manager Cosmos Shaduka, centralised 5kW solar home systems with batteries were installed in each household. “We also electrified a kindergarten by extending power from one of the connected homes. This allows parents to leave their children in a safe, powered space while they earn a living,” he explained.“There is a growing demand for electrification, especially as the Shack Dwellers recently built about 18 more houses, which we are seeking funding to connect.”Shaduka noted that the project has already improved quality of life in the community: “Children can study at night, families can cook indoors and crime levels have gone down. People are also able to engage in socio-economic activities that uplift them. As a young Namibian, this project means the world to me. It’s about using the skills we have gained to make a real impact.”Benedict Libanda, Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF), which administers the funds, said 164 households, 116 of them female-headed, have so far benefited in Swakopmund. He highlighted the strong collaboration between the EU, EIF, the Shack Dwellers Association, and regional electricity distributor Erongo RED. “It’s really about access to energy, improving livelihoods, and making sure our communities have electricity in their households,” Libanda said.Watch a video here: q.my.na/WH79

Sunlight empowers informal electrification

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-23

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Sunlight empowers informal electrification

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-23

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