Establishment of RED in //Kharas, Hardap could accelerate electrification – Shilunga

The establishment of the Au-Ob Regional Electricity Distributor (RED) could accelerate rural electrification in the //Kharas and Hardap regions, deputy minister of mines and energy Kornelia Shilunga has said.

Speaking at the inauguration of electricity for 98 households at Berseba on Thursday, Shilunga stated that a well-managed RED will ensure efficient, affordable and sustainable electricity provision.

“By working closely with local authorities, particularly the Keetmanshoop Municipality, we will streamline efforts, optimise resources, and accelerate electrification in the //Kharas and Hardap regions,” she said.

The Au-Ob RED is a proposed entity aimed at improving electricity distribution in the two regions, but its implementation is hampered by delays in approving a crucial shareholder agreement.

Shilunga said while grid expansion remains a priority, off-grid solutions offer a viable alternative, with census data indicating that 10% of //Kharas households rely on off-grid energy, primarily solar power.

She noted that her ministry is developing a comprehensive off-grid programme to foster collaboration between end-users and private businesses, ensuring rural households can access power immediately rather than waiting for grid expansion.

“A well-designed off-grid programme, with the right standardised technology such as solar panels and lithium-ion batteries can cost between N$20 000 and N$50 000, making it a cost-effective option compared to grid extension. Furthermore, households with off-grid systems avoid monthly electricity bills, allowing them to reinvest savings into their livelihoods,” she stressed.

The deputy minister said the //Kharas region, despite being one of Namibia’s largest regions, has a small population, making electrification costly.

“Rural-urban migration is also reshaping our electrification needs. As more people move to towns and peri-urban settlements, these areas require accelerated electrification and the government is balancing efforts to ensure that both rural and growing urban areas receive the necessary electricity infrastructure,” said Shilunga.

In a speech read on his behalf, Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower) managing director Simson Haulofu said universal access to modern energy is a prerequisite for poverty eradication and economic development, but remains a challenge.

“One of our strategic areas of interest is unlocking the value of electricity sector collaboration and through that, supporting the acceleration of electrification and developing the economy. The provision of reliable, secure electricity is a duty we are committed to fulfilling,” he said.
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Haulofu revealed that under the rural electrification project, NamPower is advancing the electrification of households at Nuwe Put and Kameel River villages in the Berseba constituency, a project valued at N$7.8 million.