Angola, Namibia want Kunene project

THE controversial hydropower project on the Kunene River appears to be headed for fruition.

Yesterday, President Hifikepunye Pohamba urged the Angolan and Namibian technical commission to go ahead and set the parameters for an environmental assessment. “Our region is facing a power deficit that has the potential to disrupt economic activities and the livelihoods of our people,” said President Pohamba at the opening of bilateral talks with his Angolan counterpart, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, in Windhoek.Dos Santos arrived at noon for a short state visit.”The Angolan-Namibian Joint Technical Commission should be encouraged to finalise the terms of reference for the environmental impact assessment (EIA) with the view to construct the Baynes hydropower project as soon as possible,” Pohamba said.”This will help us to cushion the impact of power shortage in our region.Namibia is also pursuing the construction of a gas-to-power station to exploit the Kudu gas field off our coastline.”The hydropower project was originally scheduled to be constructed some 60 kilometres east of the Baynes Mountains at the Epupa falls, a popular tourist attraction.Several international environmental organisations and Ovahimba communities living in the area rejected the project.The dam would have inundated the waterfalls and the whole valley at Epupa with its 5 000 palm trees.After the civil war ended in Angola in 2002, the two governments discussed the project and the possibility of moving it further west to the Baynes Mountains, where the impact on the environment is assumed to be less.President Pohamba also informed Dos Santos that the northern railway line to the Santa Clara border post would be completed next year and would become fully operational in early 2010.”The Angolan government might wish to consider linking the Angolan railway network to that of Namibia to enhance regional co-operation and trade of goods,” Pohamba said.For his part, President Dos Santos emphasised the excellent relations between the two countries.However, several thousand Angolan refugees are still living in the Osire refugee camp.”They have not yet come home,” he said through an interpreter.The two presidents witnessed the signing of 11 agreements on education, private investment, science and technology, mutual assistance in criminal matters and public security.President Dos Santos will address a joint session of the National Assembly and the National Council this morning and afterwards he will visit Meatco and the Windhoeker Maschinenfabrik before returning home in the afternoon.”Our region is facing a power deficit that has the potential to disrupt economic activities and the livelihoods of our people,” said President Pohamba at the opening of bilateral talks with his Angolan counterpart, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, in Windhoek.Dos Santos arrived at noon for a short state visit.”The Angolan-Namibian Joint Technical Commission should be encouraged to finalise the terms of reference for the environmental impact assessment (EIA) with the view to construct the Baynes hydropower project as soon as possible,” Pohamba said.”This will help us to cushion the impact of power shortage in our region.Namibia is also pursuing the construction of a gas-to-power station to exploit the Kudu gas field off our coastline.”The hydropower project was originally scheduled to be constructed some 60 kilometres east of the Baynes Mountains at the Epupa falls, a popular tourist attraction. Several international environmental organisations and Ovahimba communities living in the area rejected the project.The dam would have inundated the waterfalls and the whole valley at Epupa with its 5 000 palm trees.After the civil war ended in Angola in 2002, the two governments discussed the project and the possibility of moving it further west to the Baynes Mountains, where the impact on the environment is assumed to be less.President Pohamba also informed Dos Santos that the northern railway line to the Santa Clara border post would be completed next year and would become fully operational in early 2010.”The Angolan government might wish to consider linking the Angolan railway network to that of Namibia to enhance regional co-operation and trade of goods,” Pohamba said.For his part, President Dos Santos emphasised the excellent relations between the two countries.However, several thousand Angolan refugees are still living in the Osire refugee camp.”They have not yet come home,” he said through an interpreter.The two presidents witnessed the signing of 11 agreements on education, private investment, science and technology, mutual assistance in criminal matters and public security.President Dos Santos will address a joint session of the National Assembly and the National Council this morning and afterwards he will visit Meatco and the Windhoeker Maschinenfabrik before returning home in the afternoon.