Chamwe Kaira
The ribbon cutting ceremony on one of the biggest construction projects in Windhoek, the new US Embassy will take place this week. The project pumped millions into the Namibian economy.
The US Embassy said the project cost US$300 million will have local features like plants, solar, and recycled water.
The new embassy compound features solar array that will power 50 percent of the chancery’s needs.
Approximately 5000 native and drought-tolerant plants, and trees were replanted on the compound, reducing site irrigation needs.
The US mission said the completion of the project has impacted the lives of 2000 Namibians. The mission will house all current embassy, consular as well as US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff.
The building comes with a fully equipped gym, lactation room, and vaccination and health center. In addition, the building is covered in solar panels which provide over 400 kWP, powering 50 percent of the building’s needs.
The American mission has said the project shows the seriousness of the United States’ commitment to working with Namibia, which it says is very important. The state-of-the-art embassy will be the platform from which the United States and Namibia fight COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, and future pandemics that might threaten the world, the mission stated.
With the project completed, the embassy has said it will partner with Namibia to make clean energy from solar and green hydrogen.
“From this platform, Namibia and the United States will grow both economies together through new trade ties, like we’ve done with beef, beer, and charcoal. We will fight international smuggling and trafficking, which threaten human rights, legitimate commerce, and wildlife.”
American construction firm BL Harbert led the project and employed 810 workers at the site, of which 761 were Namibian. The project injected money into the Namibian economy through salaries and contracts to local companies.
