Energy

AFD eye renewable energy battery projects

AFD eye renewable energy battery projects

CHAMWE KAIRA Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group of France is investigating the possibility of funding renewable energy battery storage projects in Namibia, Head of State Owned Enterprises, Ntumba Katabua disclosed in an interview. Battery energy storage systems operate by converting electricity from the grid or a power generation source (such as from solar or wind) into stored chemical energy. Katabua explained that the batteries could store power that could be used when there is no sunlight, for example at night. Katabua further said AFD looking at the possibility of supporting a prefeasibility study or feasibility study see whether there…
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Biomass industry has N$21 billion potential

Biomass industry has N$21 billion potential

CHAMWE KAIRA The Namibian biomass industry has a value chain potential of about N$21 billion, CEO of the Namibia Biomass Industry Group, Progress Kashandula said in an interview. He was speaking on the sidelines of a signing ceremony for the N$2,3 billion, 40 MW Otjikoto Biomass Power Project. Four local biomass companies will supply 180 000 tons per annum of wood chips in total for a combined annual contract value of N$188 million. Kashandula said the issue of wood harvesting is based on bush encroachment as a degrading factor to the agriculture sector, especially in terms that it being a…
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Dongfang seeking to construct hydrogen projects

Dongfang seeking to construct hydrogen projects

CHAMWE KAIRA Dongfang Electric of China has expressed interest in constructing and supplying equipment for the planned green hydrogen projects in the country. Xiong Chao, Deputy General Manager of M&E Division II, told Observer Money that most of its business is construction, manufacture and supply of equipment for energy projects such as hydrogen projects. “We are one of the biggest power equipment manufacturers, if there are some hydrogen projects, that are interested to work with us, we would be interested to work with them and partner on these hydrogen projects.” Chao said the company has worked on many hydrogen energy…
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Second Oil and Gas conference is set to unlock investment opportunities

Second Oil and Gas conference is set to unlock investment opportunities

Niël Terblanché Windhoek will host the second Namibia Oil and Gas Conference from 20 to 22 August . Co-hosted by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), this event aims to provide a platform for the public and private sectors, entrepreneurs, and the general public to explore investment opportunities in the country’s burgeoning oil and gas sector. NIPDB Chief Executive Officer, Nangula Uaandja, said that the conference will focus on five key sectors, with particular attention to energy, mining, and agriculture. Uaandja highlighted the importance of inclusive conversations among industry players…
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NamPower set to launch N$2 billion biomass power plant

NamPower set to launch N$2 billion biomass power plant

Niël Terblanché NamPower is set to begin construction of a 40MW biomass power generation station at Otjikoto Substation near Tsumeb. With an estimated development cost exceeding N$2 billion, the project is another significant step in Namibia's efforts to enhance its energy security and utilize renewable resources. The Otjikoto Biomass Power Station, the first and largest of its kind in the country, will generate electricity through the combustion of wood chips sourced from encroacher bush that grows in the areas surrounding the envisaged plant. During a signing ceremony held in Windhoek last week, NamPower's Managing Director, Simson Haulofu, pointed to the…
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Mnyupe allays environmentalists’ fear of Green Hydrogen Project

Mnyupe allays environmentalists’ fear of Green Hydrogen Project

Niël Terblanché The Green Hydrogen Commissioner of the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme, James Mnyupe, has assured that the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT) will oversee the development of a Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) for the Southern Corridor Development Initiative (SCDI), which includes the TKNP. This comes after the call for an independent and transparent Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the green hydrogen sector in Namibia by the Namibian Chamber of Environment (NCE). This call was made on International Day for Biodiversity and directed at the Namibian and German governments as well as the European Union. International…
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Namibia renews biodiversity conservation amidst global challenges

Namibia renews biodiversity conservation amidst global challenges

Niël Terblanché Namibia reaffirmed its dedication to conserving biodiversity, highlighting the critical role it plays in sustaining ecosystems, providing food and medicine, and contributing to overall human well-being. During the celebration of International Biological Diversity Day in Lüderitz, Pohamba Shifeta, the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said that biodiversity conservation is not just an environmental issue but a foundational element for economic stability and cultural heritage. In his address, the minister pointed out that human activities such as deforestation, habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change pose unprecedented threats to biodiversity. "The loss of biodiversity has far-reaching consequences, impacting food…
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Namibia requires a fit-for-purpose Oil and Gas blueprint

Namibia requires a fit-for-purpose Oil and Gas blueprint

Martin Endjala Namibia requires a forward-looking, fit-for-current and future-purpose Oil and Gas value blueprint and strategy. Jason Kasuto, the managing director of Monasa Advisory and Associates and chairperson of the Economic Association of Namibia, said this last week at the 2024 Africa Energies Summit in London. Kasuto emphasised the importance of using foresight tools like the Namibian Socio-Economic Assessment Model (SAM) to analyse the potential impact of future oil and gas spending across various sectors. “We must start with a thorough analysis of potential impacts across various sectors by applying socio-economic impact foresight tools such as the SAM, which is…
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Robust partnerships needed to achieve clean cooking goals

Robust partnerships needed to achieve clean cooking goals

Niël Terblanché Cooking on fires fueled by wood or animal dung has severe health, environmental, and gender equality implications, leading to approximately 600,000 premature deaths annually, mostly among women and children around the world. The Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, stressed an urgent need for robust partnerships with industrialised countries, multinational companies, and the global private sector to finance clean cooking initiatives across Africa. Schlettwien spoke at the Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa, which is currently underway in Paris. He pointed to the financial constraints that have impeded Namibia and many other African countries from…
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Paladin secures seven offtakes for uranium

Paladin secures seven offtakes for uranium

CHAMWE KAIRA Paladin Energy, which owns the Langer Heinrich Mine has secured seven offtakes for its uranium production, the company announced this week. The company said strong demand for nuclear energy is driven by global decarbonisation worldwide. Paladin notes that nuclear energy is the second largest source of global clean energy with almost zero carbon emissions. It also noted that Chinese demand for nuclear energy is expected to grow from 15% to 33% of global requirements by 2040. Paladin said 19 million pound of uranium oxide production is contracted to the year 2030 representing 48% of volume. The company also…
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