Martin Endjala
Nampower has announced in a media release today that it will suspend electricity supply to Kombat village, including to the Congo Namibia Trading Pty Ltd Kombat Mine on the 28th of February.
The suspension comes after Congo Namibia Trading defaulted on its commitment to pay its account.
The debt has been accumulating since July 2018 and it now stands at over N$29 million according to Nampower.
The suspension of electricity will affect the Kombat village residents, as they utilize the same supply point used by the mine. The mine is currently under new ownership. The account has been growing unabated and no accountability was taken by the respective entities, the statement reads.
The corporate communication manager Tangeni Kambangula told Windhoek Observer that, “Nampower is not the utility supplier of electricity to the Kombat village residence, but the customer is the one supplying to the village, which is the Kombat mine and that the residence should consult their electricity service provider”, she adds.
Kambangu advises that all the entities mentioned in the notice should contact their service providers for further assistance.
The Regional Council Chairperson of Otjozondjupa, Marly Mbakera told Windhoek Observer today that the debt belongs to the former owners of the mine.
Mbakera was quick to point out that the new owners signed a contract with Censored last year to supply electricity and she also confirms that come Monday from 12h00 in the morning, Cenored will be conducting connections and administration for the Kombat village residents. The mine will be utilizing Censored electricity supply and residents will also be supplied by regional power supplier.
“We had a meeting with Cenored on the matter and made an arrangement, of which Cenored already has put in motion to be the utility supplier to the kombat residents”, she concurs.
Nampower has implemented a debt collection plan since March 2021, which resulted in consultations with their defaulting customers to reach payment agreements, of which some managed to settle their accounts, while others have defaulted on their commitments that they made, including Congo Namibia Trading, and others were not forthcoming.
