WINDHOEK, Aug. 27 — Namibia is intensifying efforts to narrow energy inequality by expanding electricity access in rural and peri-urban areas, with the government increasingly turning to solar power to accelerate household electrification, a senior official said Wednesday.
Speaking at the commissioning of electrification projects in Kongola, Zambezi Region, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industries, Mines, and Energy Natangue Ithete said only 13,502 of the region’s 37,296 households are connected to the grid, leaving nearly two-thirds without power.
He said the government is prioritizing densely populated peri-urban and rural centers where grid connections are financially viable, while rolling out solar systems and mini-grids in remote villages where grid expansion is impractical.
“We have ample sunlight in Zambezi, therefore we cannot be without electricity; we cannot only rely on the grid,” Ithete said, adding that solar power is locally produced and more affordable as it eliminates import costs.
Ithete stressed that access to electricity is essential for schools, healthcare centers, transport, and businesses, urging stronger partnerships between government, utilities, local authorities, and communities to drive universal access. Namibia has set a national target to achieve household electrification nationwide by 2040. (Xinhua)
