Keetmans not marred by SELCo
The Keetmanshoop town council is not suffering any after-effects of its disastrous relationship with the South African-based Southern Electricity Company, SELCo.
SELCo previously held a concession for the operational functions of Keetmanshoop's electricity network.
Town CEO Desmond Basson told Namibian Sun that the municipality would not be discouraged from joining a yet to be established Southern Regional Electricity Distributor (RED) despite its rather precarious history with SELCo.
“Our history with SELCo has nothing to do with a national drive backed by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
“The Southern RED would only be viable for any of the participants if all the municipalities in the south join at the same time and only when the bigger municipalities are part of the venture, to cross-subsidise the activities of the smaller municipalities,” Basson said.
SELCo's responsibilities in Keetmanshoop included upgrading, maintenance, operation and distribution of an optimal electricity network.
This extended to billing and revenue collection.
Residents of Keetmanshoop complained about SELCo's power tariffs, saying they were too high.
That eventually brought the rocky relationship to an end and marked the entry of Erongo RED as the Keetmanshoop municipality's technical partner.
Basson indicated that the ball was now rolling steadily towards the establishment of a southern RED.
“We have already confirmed that we would join the Southern RED.
“That is on which basis the CEO of Keetmanshoop municipality is part of the technical committee that is establishing the Southern RED and the mayor serves on the shareholders' committee,” Basson said.
With no clear date set for the establishment of the Southern RED, Basson said his municipality and Erongo RED would be engaged in a partnership for at least two years.
“Our arrangement with Erongo RED is an interim electricity management contract which specifically states that the arrangement would be in place for two years or until the Southern RED has been established, whichever comes first,” Basson explained.
OGONE TLHAGE
SELCo previously held a concession for the operational functions of Keetmanshoop's electricity network.
Town CEO Desmond Basson told Namibian Sun that the municipality would not be discouraged from joining a yet to be established Southern Regional Electricity Distributor (RED) despite its rather precarious history with SELCo.
“Our history with SELCo has nothing to do with a national drive backed by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
“The Southern RED would only be viable for any of the participants if all the municipalities in the south join at the same time and only when the bigger municipalities are part of the venture, to cross-subsidise the activities of the smaller municipalities,” Basson said.
SELCo's responsibilities in Keetmanshoop included upgrading, maintenance, operation and distribution of an optimal electricity network.
This extended to billing and revenue collection.
Residents of Keetmanshoop complained about SELCo's power tariffs, saying they were too high.
That eventually brought the rocky relationship to an end and marked the entry of Erongo RED as the Keetmanshoop municipality's technical partner.
Basson indicated that the ball was now rolling steadily towards the establishment of a southern RED.
“We have already confirmed that we would join the Southern RED.
“That is on which basis the CEO of Keetmanshoop municipality is part of the technical committee that is establishing the Southern RED and the mayor serves on the shareholders' committee,” Basson said.
With no clear date set for the establishment of the Southern RED, Basson said his municipality and Erongo RED would be engaged in a partnership for at least two years.
“Our arrangement with Erongo RED is an interim electricity management contract which specifically states that the arrangement would be in place for two years or until the Southern RED has been established, whichever comes first,” Basson explained.
OGONE TLHAGE
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