Energy minister to consider 14 power generation applications

The Board of the Electricity Control Board of Namibia at its August and November meetings recommended 14 licence applications for the approval of energy minister, Tom Alweendo, as well as renewal of the licence of the //Au-Ob Regional Electricity Distributor. Alweendo recently announced a new directive to boost energy security. The 2024 Ministerial Determination allocates 330 MW of solar PV capacity for new power generation projects. This includes six 20 MW solar plants to be developed by Independent Power Producers (IPPs), with the remaining capacity likely going to the national power company, NamPower.



Market Watch lists the licence applications forwarded to the minister for approval:

Rössing Uranium Limited: Generation licence for 18 megawatt peak (MWp) solar photo voltaic (PV) plant at N$1.29/kilowatt hour (kWh) -13 year licence.

ANIREP: Generation licence amendment to increase the installed capacity from 5.61MWp to 13.42 MWp. Tariff already reduced by the ECB Board, with CENORED as off-taker.

Otjikoto Biomass Plant: Generation licence amendment to increase the installed capacity from 44 MW to 47MW, with an energy charge of N0.89/kWh and a capacity charge of N608.46/kVA/month.

Aussenkehr Plant 1: Generation licence for a 23.328 MWp solar PV plant at N$0.75/kWh-25 year licence, the off-taker is ECS Mining.

Aussenkehr Plant 2: Generation licence for a 23.328 MWp solar PV plant at N$0.75/kWh-25 year licence, the off-taker is ECS Mining.

TeraWatt: Generation licence application for a 50 MWp solar PV plant at N$1.43/kWh-25 year licence, the off-taker is Rare Earth Minerals (PTY) Ltd.

GC Power Solutions: Generation licence for an 8.6 MWp solar PV plant at N$0.90/kWh 25 year licence, the off-takers are Seawork Fish Processor, Plastic Packaging, Namibia Breweries, and Namib Mills.

Kerbehuk Ridge Wind Energy: The licence is to be issued for a period of 18 years; an indicative tariff of N$ 1.327/kWh; a rated nameplate capacity of 34 MW Wind Farm, the off-taker is Namdeb Diamond Corporation.

BW Kudu Generation Licence: The licence is to be issued for a period of 20 years; an indicative tariff of N$ 2.112 kWh (USc 12/kWh); a rated nameplate capacity of 420 MW Gas Engines and the off-taker is NamPower.

Schonau Solar Energy Generation Licence Amendment: Amendment of Schonau licence capacity to decrease the existing capacity from 124.94 MWp to 53.87 MWp and to include a battery storage system of 40 MW/80 megawatt-hour (MWh) for 25 years. Indicative tariff to remain at N$0.89/kWh.

Daures Net Zero Green Hydrogen: The licence is to be issued for an off-grid Solar PV pilot project for a 739.2 kWp for a period of 5 years; an indicative tariff of N$ 1.194/kWh, for own consumption.

H2-DRI Green Iron Manufacturing Solar PV: The licence is to be issued for an off-grid Solar PV for a period of 25 years; an indicative tariff of N$ 0.54/kWh; a rated nameplate capacity of 25.334 MWp for solar PV and 12 MW/13.4 MWh BESS, for own consumption.

Langer Heinrich Generation Licence: Application for renewal of the Standby Generation licence to be granted for a period of 10 years; installed capacity of 10.206 MW (rated nameplate capacity).

Renewal of Distribution and Supply Licenses of //Au-Ob RED Shareholders: The renewal of distribution and supply licenses for those licensees that have signed the Shareholders Agreement with //Au-ob RED for a period of six months from 1 January 2025 until 30 June 2025, or until such time that //Au-Ob RED is established and operational, whichever occurs first.