17 October 2013, Windhoek – Namibia’s power utility, NamPower, plans to import one million Light-Emitting Diode (LED) light bulbs into the country.
The importation of the energy-efficient bulbs is part of NamPower’s Demand Site Management programme which will be launched before the end of this year.
The Demand Site Management programme is part of short-term projects earmarked to assist with power supply between now and 2018 when the Kudu Gas power project will be up and running.
NamPower’s Managing Director Paulinus Shilamba told Nampa that tenders for the importation of the light bulbs will be out soon.
“Local and international bidders are encouraged to bid, and whoever gives the best offer will be given the tender. We will be looking at the quality and price,” he said. LED is a power saving product, which offers a comparatively long life compared to incandescent and some fluorescent lighting.
Shilamba explained that the Demand Site Management programme also involves the installation of solar water heaters, which NamPower will subsidise.
“This programme also involves entering into partnership with companies which have standby generators, so that we can force them to run those generators at NamPower’s cost when we are really in a crisis situation,” he noted.
Shilamba, however, stated that the country’s power supply situation is critical but firmly under control.
“Despite the situation, members of the public need not panic. We never failed you in the past, and we will not fail you now,” he said.
The country is currently importing between
50% and 70% of its energy requirements from the region, while also depending on the availability of water at the Ruacana Hydro Power station, which increased its capacity with an additional unit of 85MW to a total installed capacity of 334MW.
The country imports energy from Eskom in South Africa, Electricidade de Mozambique (EDM), Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa), Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (Zesco) and the Societe nationale d’ electricite (SNEL) of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Although several power-generation plants are planned, most of these plants are to start generating only after 2017 due to construction lead times.
Namibia decided to go ahead with the execution of power-generation projects such as the Baynes Hydro Power and the Kudu Gas-to-Power project, which are only expected to generate power after the year 2017.
The Baynes Hydro Power station is set to cost at least N$13 billion, while the Kudu Gas project is estimated to cost at least N$13,8 billion.
– Namibian