The conference dealt with the potential impact of renewable energy and energy efficiency on the national economy in Namibia, as energy plays a key role in the development of many different sectors in the country. Facilitator Rowland Brown started the event by pointing out that Namibia has a huge potential generation capacity due to one of the highest solar radiation regimes in the world. In theory, the country could generate over 1 800 000 TWH with solar power by using only 20 TWH every year – a surplus that could easily be exported and sold to other countries as a source of revenue. Yet, Namibia still imports more than 70% of its energy from neighbouring countries like South Africa and Botswana. This makes the country both heavily dependent on those countries as well as vulnerable for supply disruption at the same time.

Following, Mr. Brown also highlighted the fact that the low investment in energy infrastructure and generation is another determinant for the current situation with its low levels of self-sufficiency. Only one per cent of the country’s GDP is currently spent on water and electricity development. However, to reach the ambitious goals set in the Harambee Prosperity Plan as well as in the newest NDP5 and to tackle poverty in the country in a sustainable manner, Namibia needs to invest much more and intensify its effort in the near future.

Overall, the event did once again show the manifold benefits correlating with renewable energies in Namibia while at the same time pointing out the various challenges such as electricity storage, outdated infrastructure and grid stability. These need to be address as soon as possible in order to promote stable and lasting economic growth and avoid looming consequences such as load-shedding in the near future.

The event brought together around 90 participants and was well visited by representatives of the media, NamPower, the Namibian business sector as well as representatives from the Civil Society. Mr. Brown’s presentation will result into a publication on the topic, which will also refer to and answer the many questions which the audience voiced during the event. The publication will be made available at the KAS Namibia-Angola Office as well as on our homepage in due course.

KAS would like to once again thank Mr. Schütt, Mr. Brown and the Bank of Namibia for making their venue available for this event.