Erongo RED inaugurates revamped headquarters

ERONGO’s electricity distributor, Erongo RED, inaugurated its renovated headquarters at Walvis Bay last week.

The project took two years to complete, and cost N$31 million.

Erongo RED was established in 2005 to become the sole electricity distributor for the region, and to develop power supply to especially the rural areas.

The company started with a handful of workers in a rented section of a building in the harbour town’s CBD. As it grew, there was an urgent need of space for the growing workforce, as well as for proper customer services.

In 2010, the RED thus bought the whole building for N$21 million.

A few years later, and to meet the need for even more space, the company decided to renovate and create enough space in a modern environment.

Erongo RED has also acquired land in various towns in the region, where new offices will be built for better customer care.

The company’s aim, based on its motto ‘power to the people’, is that all households will be electrified by 2020. While the urban areas are nearly 100% electrified, there is still work to be done in the rural areas.

In fact, before Erongo RED came into being, the electricity infrastructure in smaller towns and rural areas was deteriorating as it was not properly maintained due to increased economic pressure on local authorities.

“No towns or villages in the region were ever disconnected since Erongo RED took over. The network infrastructure in various towns has been upgraded, and the company continues to create direct job opportunities for our region,” said CEO Fessor Mbango.

Since its inception, Erongo RED has concentrated on the development of the company towards self-sufficiency, and to streamline operating functions and processes.

It now sells electricity at a price which reflects the actual cost of distribution, and has widely established itself in the region.

“Our focus has now shifted to the refinement of the business, extending access to electricity, improving customer service, and further developing sustainable operations,” Mbango noted.

Energy minister Tom Alweendo said 2018 was the year of reckoning, and that “what matters most is not the building or the speeches, but what we do with it.”

“We need to be held accountable, and not just pass the buck. We need to be transparent, especially in leadership, when it comes to service delivery,” he added.

Alweendo said his ministry is busy with a 20-year strategic plan for power supply and management, which prioritises alternative energy resources.

Namibia still imports 60% of its electricity, which he describes as “not tenable, hence more needs to be done”.