The construction of US$13.6mn Ombepo wind power project at Lüderitz in Namibia is close to completion, reported the developer Innosun Energy Holdings, noting that the project aims to add five megawatts of electricity to the country’s national power grid
Innosun Energy Holdings is a Namibia-registered company which is owned by Namibian and French investors.
In a statement to The Namibian newspaper, Jan-Barend Scheepers, project manager, stated, “We have erected the first four wind turbines and work is in progress to lift another one.”
He said that after completion of the project, the wind farm would be connected to the electricity grid of Nampower, the national power utility company of Namibia, by the end of July 2017.
Scheepers further added that in terms of power supply agreement, Innosun will charge Nampower per unit of electricity fed into the national grid, noting that the electricity cost would be cheap per unit.
Commenting on the project he noted, “Although it was very difficult to get the wind turbine components on site, it was an absolute pleasure working with Namport to get all parts on site.”
Namibia imports electricity from neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Zimbabwe. In 2016, Namibia’s electricity import crossed its exports by almost US$2mn, making electricity among one of major imports for the country. The International Energy Agency (IEA) revealed that more than two thirds of the Namibian population does not have access to electricity, with rural areas suffering the most.
Commenting on the growing electricity demand, Calle Schlettwein, minister of finance, stressed that Namibia should opt for renewable energy sources to reduce power crisis in the country.
The Ombepo wind power project is expected to help in meeting the electricity needs of the country, along with creating employment opportunities for the local people. Scheepers said to the source that the project has already created 70 jobs for the locals.
Scheepers further added that it will build a third five megawatts solar park at Aussenkehr, on the banks of the Orange river, and a second wind farm to supply electricity to Namdeb.
