Social impact assessment for Baynes incomplete
The Baynes hydropower project will be developed by the Angola – Namibia Permanent Joint Technical Commission on the Kunene River (PJTC) on behalf of the two governments.
OGONE TLHAGE
A social impact assessment still needs to be completed before the governments of Namibia and Angola can go ahead with plans to construct the multibillion-dollar Baynes hydropower project.
The Namibian power utility indicated that the study may be completed in the last quarter of 2018, at which point discussions would start with the affected communities living in the area in which the dam and power station will be constructed.
“What still needs to be completed is the social impact assessment, which relates mainly to negotiations with the affected communities for their relocation from the site earmarked for the project,”Nampower said.
The environmental clearance is anticipated to be received from both the Angolan and Namibian environmental authorities during the last quarter of 2018, Nampower said.
The cost of the hydropower station, which includes the dam infrastructure, was estimated at US$1.37 billion based on 2010 estimates. The transmission infrastructure within Namibia is estimated at about N$2.6 billion.
The project is not being developed by NamPower but by Namibia and Angola through the Namibia-Angola Permanent Joint Technical Commission (PJTC) on the Kunene River, the power utility pointed out.
“NamPower is a participant in the Commission, and is tasked with providing administrative support as well as secondment of staff to the Baynes Project Office Windhoek, which operates from the NamPower offices,” it said in response to a query.
Mines and energy minister Obeth Kandjoze said the project was, however, delayed by the recent economic crisis.
“We are just waiting to recover financially so that the project can resume,” he said.
The power project is expected to produce about 600 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
The Baynes hydropower project is strategically important to both Angola and Namibia in tackling power supply deficits, Kandjoze added.
Like the Ruacana power station, the new dam will function as a mid-merit peaking station so that NamPower can avoid buying imported power during peak hours.
The Baynes power station is expected to run at full capacity during the wet season. During the dry season, generators will operate at maximum during peak periods only, while 71MW would be generated during the off-peak periods.
The Baynes hydropower station is a very valuable generation asset that has the potential of supplying Namibia and Angola with reliable, clean electricity for generations to come, making the estimated investment of US$1.2 billion well worth it.
-additional reporting by Nampa
A social impact assessment still needs to be completed before the governments of Namibia and Angola can go ahead with plans to construct the multibillion-dollar Baynes hydropower project.
The Namibian power utility indicated that the study may be completed in the last quarter of 2018, at which point discussions would start with the affected communities living in the area in which the dam and power station will be constructed.
“What still needs to be completed is the social impact assessment, which relates mainly to negotiations with the affected communities for their relocation from the site earmarked for the project,”Nampower said.
The environmental clearance is anticipated to be received from both the Angolan and Namibian environmental authorities during the last quarter of 2018, Nampower said.
The cost of the hydropower station, which includes the dam infrastructure, was estimated at US$1.37 billion based on 2010 estimates. The transmission infrastructure within Namibia is estimated at about N$2.6 billion.
The project is not being developed by NamPower but by Namibia and Angola through the Namibia-Angola Permanent Joint Technical Commission (PJTC) on the Kunene River, the power utility pointed out.
“NamPower is a participant in the Commission, and is tasked with providing administrative support as well as secondment of staff to the Baynes Project Office Windhoek, which operates from the NamPower offices,” it said in response to a query.
Mines and energy minister Obeth Kandjoze said the project was, however, delayed by the recent economic crisis.
“We are just waiting to recover financially so that the project can resume,” he said.
The power project is expected to produce about 600 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
The Baynes hydropower project is strategically important to both Angola and Namibia in tackling power supply deficits, Kandjoze added.
Like the Ruacana power station, the new dam will function as a mid-merit peaking station so that NamPower can avoid buying imported power during peak hours.
The Baynes power station is expected to run at full capacity during the wet season. During the dry season, generators will operate at maximum during peak periods only, while 71MW would be generated during the off-peak periods.
The Baynes hydropower station is a very valuable generation asset that has the potential of supplying Namibia and Angola with reliable, clean electricity for generations to come, making the estimated investment of US$1.2 billion well worth it.
-additional reporting by Nampa
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