Namibia joins global initiative to increase power generation

WINDHOEK, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Namibia officially launched its National Energy Compact on Thursday, marking the country's formal entry into Mission 300, with the primary objective of reversing its current reliance on importing energy.

Mission 300 is a major initiative led by the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank and partners to bring electricity to 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.

The launch in Windhoek, Namibia's capital, officiated by Minister of Industries, Mines, and Energy Modestus Amutse, positions Namibia as a key player in the continental effort to address energy poverty.

Amutse said Namibia currently generates only about 40 percent of its own electricity, with the remaining 60 percent being imported from neighboring providers.

"Energy security is economic security, and we must change this trajectory. This means investing in generation but also addressing transmission bottlenecks," he said.

According to Amutse, the compact, which is the result of a disciplined consultation process that began in January at the Africa Energy Summit in Tanzania, anchors energy access firmly within the country's national development goals.

"Under the Sixth National Development Plan, Namibia has committed to connecting 200,000 households within the planned period," he said, adding that the National Energy Compact provides the coordinated framework to deliver on that commitment.

Meanwhile, Namibia, under its National Integrated Resource Plan, has set clear ambitions to reach 80 percent electricity self-sufficiency and to achieve 70 percent renewable energy penetration in its generation mix.

While the strategy leans heavily on Namibia's solar and wind resources, Amutse highlighted a potential shift toward nuclear power.

"We are also endowed with some of the most significant uranium resources in the world. If we are serious about long-term decarbonization, affordability, and reliability, nuclear energy must be part of the conversation," he said. ■