Namibian minister says private investors should play greater role in energy sector

Namibia's mines minister Obeth Kandjoze has said private investors should play a greater role in addressing the future energy needs of the country.

Speaking at the first ever National Stakeholder Workshop on Namibia's Energy Policy in Windhoek Monday, Kandjoze said the involvement of private investors will alleviate the funding problem faced by the government and relieve the borrowing requirement of the country's power utility.

Kandjoze said he has met about 30 organizations that are active in the electricity sector in the past two months and now understands how to shape energy policy.

"We realize that the private sector has a definite role to play, not only for the sake of investments, but also to introduce new expertise and technologies," he said.

The minister also said that there are numerous opportunities for the private sector ranging from conventional electricity supply solutions to innovative off-grid business models and investments in embedded and distributed generation and others.

Kandjoze said Namibia cannot afford to continue importing 100 percent liquid fuels and more than 60 percent of its electricity requirements because apart from this being a strategic risk, it also perpetuates the export of capital that could be used on other pressing issues.

He bemoaned the fact that Namibia's national electrification rate stands at 34 percent, saying this means about two-thirds of the population does not have access to any form of energy.

"This national challenge is another demonstration of where the government and the private sector can meaningfully collaborate and in this way, jointly develop the country," he said.

In his concluding remarks, Kandjoze said the workshop should find ways of making electricity accessible to those without it; how Namibia can wean itself from dependency on fossil fuels and imported electricity; and how power distributors can contribute in driving the national agenda. Endit