Chinese companies awarded Rosh Pinah power project contract

The Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower) has awarded a N$1.4 billion contract to a Chinese joint venture to build a 100-megawatt (MW) solar power plant.

The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the Rosh Pinah photovoltaic (PV) project was signed between China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation and CHINT New Energy Development (Zhejiang).

NamPower managing director Simson Haulofu says the project is expected to create hundreds of jobs during construction and contribute significantly to Namibia’s renewable energy goals.

As part of the agreement, the contractor is required to spend at least 25% of the construction cost on local content, injecting over N$350 million into the Namibian economy. The total cost of the project stands at around N$1.6 billion, with almost 80% funded through a concessional loan from KfW. The remaining 20% is covered by NamPower, he adds.

The construction of the plant will take approximately 18 months, with nearly 800 workers on-site at the peak of activity, says Haulofu.

“The construction of the plant will create job opportunities for locals, as all semi-skilled and unskilled labour must be sourced locally in line with the conditions agreed in the EPC contract. The plant’s commercial operation date is anticipated for the second quarter of 2026,” he says.

Haulofu notes that the investment in the Rosh Pinah 100MW PV project will contribute to managing and regulating future increases in electricity tariffs.

“This will not only benefit individual consumers by lowering increases to their electricity bills but also contribute to the overall economic growth and environmental sustainability.”

Haulofu has expressed gratitude to the National Planning Commission and the German government, which supported and agreed to the implementation of the Rosh Pinah 100MW PV project as part of inter-governmental negotiations and development cooperation between Namibia and Germany.

He says as the second largest PV project, the plant will help the government accomplish its goals of ensuring electricity supply security and self-sufficiency, as outlined in national planning policies such as the fifth National Development Plan and the National Integrated Resource Plan.

Meanwhile, the representative of the joint venture, Yan Deng, says China Jiangxi International has successfully delivered over 600 international engineering projects across more than 50 countries. These projects range from high-rise buildings, roads, bridges and water conservancies, as well as airports and stadiums.

“For 20 years now, we’ve been listed among the top 250 international contractors worldwide. Here in Namibia, China Jiangxi International has been active for 20 years, and we’ve completed 61 projects across the country,” he adds.