Namibia powered by Zim
2008-01-20 19:06
Windhoek - Namibia has begun receiving electricity from western Zimbabwe after a multi-million cash injection to refurbish a worn-out power station, officials said.
"We are now receiving 40 megawatts (MW) from Zimbabwe's Hwange coal station after the first of four generators was refurbished," Paulinus Shilamba, managing director of Namibia's utility NamPower, told reporters.
Both countries signed a loan agreement last February during a state visit to Namibia by President Robert Mugabe.
NamPower forwarded a loan of 40 million US dollars to the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) to fund the restoration of four generators which should each have a capacity of 120 MW by September.
"In return, Namibia will receive 150 MW electricity from Hwange for five years starting this year," Shilamba added, "so there will be no cash repayment of the loan, but electricity."
The remaining 330 MW will flow into the Zimbabwean grid.
The southern African region is facing a major electricity crisis with South Africa now experiencing daily power cuts for several hours at a time while Zimbabwe has long been hit by blackouts.
Namibia has its own installed electricity capacity of 393 MW, but peak demand rose to nearly 600 MW in 2007, due to increased copper and uranium mining.
About 40% of Namibia's electricity is currently imported from South Africa but that figure is to be reduced.
- Sapa
- SAPA