Ombepo Wind Farm at Lüderitz officially opened

WINDHOEK, 27 Apr – The first wind farm in Namibia was officially opened at Lüderitz in the //Kharas Region on Thursday.
The Ombepo Wind Farm will contribute five megawatts of electricity to the national power grid.
Speaking at the opening, Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo said Namibia is still heavily dependent on imported electricity but the picture is changing slowly but surely.
“Solar and wind electricity are the answer and a lot has been done over the past few years which will take Namibia on a path of electricity independence,” Alweendo said in his statement provided to the media.
Currently, Namibia imports more than 60 per cent of its electricity from neighbouring countries like South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Alweendo mentioned a few solar projects such as the Omburu solar plant near Omaruru and the solar plant at Aussenkehr.
He also said the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and businesses like Namibia Breweries Limited have taken the initiative to install solar panels.
“I would like to thank everyone who has thus far taken on this commitment for enhancing government’s ambitious target of providing 70 per cent of the country’s energy mix from renewable resources by the year 2030,” said the minister.

He added that with big projects in the country, government cannot handle and achieve all commitments on its own and thus seeks private partnerships to boost and develop its objectives.
Alweendo also thanked French company, Innosun Energy Holdings, and the Lüderitz Town Council for their partnership in realising the project.
“I would like to thank you, once again Innosun, for playing your part in harnessing natural resources to generate electricity. I call on the private sector to play an even greater role in assisting us to meet the energy needs of our country,” Alweendo said.
(NAMPA)