6 Jun 2025
ECB calls for urgent investment in stable, round-the-clock electricity supply amid reliance on solar and imports
The Electricity Control Board has formally submitted recommendations to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, urging the urgent development of a base load power plant to enhance Namibia’s electricity supply security.
ECB Chief Executive Officer Robert Kahimise said the submission, made to the Office of the Minister, outlines the critical need for a power facility capable of delivering consistent energy.
“Namibia urgently needs to develop a base load power plant, as our current reliance on intermittent renewable energy sources, mainly solar, creates supply gaps outside of sunshine hours,” Kahimise told Namibia Mining & Energy.
He said most of the country’s renewable energy sources, with the exception of NamPower’s biomass generation, do not provide continuous power. This forces NamPower to seek alternative sources during periods when renewable generation drops.
Base load power refers to a consistent and reliable energy supply available around the clock, regardless of weather or time of day, Kahimise said.
“It serves as the minimum amount of electricity needed consistently over long periods to meet national demand. The ECB believes that establishing a base load power plant will result in cheaper, locally generated electricity compared to our current dependence on imports,” he said.
The ECB further recommended that government funding should be directed toward capital investment in power infrastructure, instead of subsidizing operational costs of licensees. The Board argues this would provide a more sustainable solution to the challenges of reliability and affordability in the power sector.
In addition to developing a base load plant, the ECB is also advocating for improvements to the national transmission network.
“Improved transmission capacity will enable the evacuation of local generation, unlock additional generation potential, and support Namibia’s export ambitions—areas where the Board has already issued multiple export licences,” said Kahimise.
He reaffirmed the ECB’s stance from last year, emphasizing the need to reduce Namibia’s reliance on imported electricity to meet its base load requirements.
The call for domestic base load generation comes amid the new government administration’s prioritization of nuclear power exploration—a development the ECB considers a viable base load option.
Kahimise clarified that the Board is not promoting a specific energy source, but is instead calling for the inclusion of a reliable base load element in the country’s overall energy mix.
“What is different now, in terms of the priorities and key strategic projects of our new administration, is that they have prioritised the exploration of a nuclear power plant. A nuclear power plant qualifies as a base load power plant,” he said.
Namibia’s national peak electricity demand is currently just under 700 megawatts, with renewable sources accounting for approximately 30% of the energy mix.