NamPower aims for 80% self-reliance by 2030… industrial demand from oil, gas, and minerals to put more pressure

NamPower has set an ambitious target of achieving 80% domestic electricity self-sufficiency by 2030, while increasing renewable energy’s contribution to the domestic energy mix to 70%, as the power utility prepares for a potentially sharp increase in electricity demand from oil and gas, green hydrogen and mineral beneficiation.

The targets form part of NamPower’s newly launched Integrated Strategic Business Plan (ISBP) 2026–2030, recently unveiled as the utility marked 30 years of service to the country.

The ISBP launch, coinciding with NamPower’s 30th anniversary, signals an attempt to overhaul capacity and strategic positioning before Namibia’s anticipated industrial expansion puts more pressure on the national electricity grid.

Speaking at the launch, NamPower Board Deputy Chairperson Paulina Elago said the five-year strategy represents a deliberate attempt to position the utility for an energy landscape being reshaped by industrialisation, technological change, geopolitical uncertainty and rising expectations from consumers.

“In a world where geopolitics shift, markets evolve, and technology reshapes industries, standing still is not an option,” Elago said.

“This plan is our proactive response: a coordinated, company-wide strategy that leverages our strengths, confronts our weaknesses, and mitigates the risks that lie ahead.”

This strategy comes as Namibia seeks to reduce its longstanding dependence on imported electricity while simultaneously positioning itself as a regional energy and industrial hub.

**Asset base **

NamPower’s 2030 plan is built around an estimated N$58 billion asset base, while about N$4.7 billion will be required to connect some 206 000 households in peri-urban and rural areas to electricity by 2030.

At the unveiling of the ISBP, Elago said it is imperative to build on three decades of institutional experience while confronting emerging risks.

“It means building deliberately on the capabilities, infrastructure, partnerships, and institutional knowledge that have sustained NamPower for three decades,” she said.

“It means unlocking new growth areas, improving service delivery, deepening regional collaboration, and strengthening our role in Namibia’s energy future.”

At the same time, the utility faces the difficult task of ensuring that generation and transmission infrastructure keeps pace with the country’s industrial ambitions.

NamPower Chai rperson Laurence Kavendjii pointed out that anticipated industrial expansion, particularly in green hydrogen, oil and gas and mineral beneficiation, could fundamentally alter the domestic electricity demand profile.

“Ant icipated indust r i a l expansion, especially in green hydrogen, will potentially provide surplus variable renewable energy, while oil and gas, and mineral beneficiation, will increase demand and place additional pressure on generation and transmission capacity,” said Kavendjii.

**Renewable options **

As this expansion creates a complicated balancing act for NamPower, renewable energy projects could increase available generation, but large industrial developments could simultaneously consume much of that additional capacity. The ISBP therefore prioritises security of supply, transmission expansion, renewable generation, financial sustainability and customer service.

Major projects in the plan include the 80MW Omburu Solar PV II project, targeted for commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2028. The longer-term pipeline includes a proposed 300MW Mega Wind project, while the 440MW Baynes hydropower project remains targeted for 2032/33.

NamPower is also incorporating battery storage into its strategy, including the 51MW Omburu Battery Energy Storage System and 45MW Lithops Battery Energy Storage System, designed to help manage the variability associated with renewable power.

Kavendjii stated that the plan is deliberately aligned with Namibia’s broader economic transformation agenda and the evolving Modified Single Buyer (MSB) electricity market.

“The new plan articulates resource deployment and a performance framework for the five-year planning cycle,” he said, adding: “It ensures that the company’s long-term objectives are synchronised with Namibia’s national energy development goals, including scaling renewable energy capacity, strengthening grid resilience, improving affordability, and supporting broader sustainability outcomes.”

Meanwhile, Elago noted that the plan was developed through extensive consultation with government, the regulator and key players across the electricity sector, with strategic interventions shaped around the risks and opportunities identified during that process. The new strategy is anchored by four strategic pillars: optimising financial sustainability; becoming a world-class, customer-focused utility; ensuring security of supply and capacity; and optimising talent.

The financial pillar seeks to grow revenue streams, improve profitability and working-capital management, while unlocking capital for strategic electricity projects.

Security of supply will focus on expanding generation and transmission capacity, optimising electricity trading and the generation mix, and driving innovation and process efficiency.

Elago said implementation would be subject to formal performance monitoring, with the corporate scorecard cascaded into business units and individual performance agreements.

“The successful implementation of our ISBP requires collective efforts and support from all strategic partners and stakeholders,” she said.

Moreover, NamPower’s new strategy also seeks to strengthen regional partnerships and exploit opportunities arising from the MSB framework, as Namibia gradually opens greater space for private-sector participation in electricity generation and trading. Kavendjii emphasised that the overarching objective is to ensure that NamPower remains capable of delivering reliable and affordable electricity while supporting the country’s rapidly changing economy.

“Our shared commitment is to enhance value for both shareholders and stakeholders,” he said. “NamPower will continue to drive innovation, foster strategic partnerships, and pursue operational excellence in delivering sustainable, reliable and affordable electricity for all Namibians.”

*– ebrandt@nepc.com.na *

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