Renthia Kaimbi
Prime Minister Elijah Tjitunga Ngurare officially launched the Erongo SUNAM Desalination (Pty) Ltd and its accompanying N$2.1 billion water security project on 24 June 2026.
The initiative, which has been over two decades in the making, was hailed by Ngurare as a transformative national infrastructure investment that will unlock economic growth and secure the country’s future.
Speaking at the launch on Friday, Ngurare described water as “the currency of sovereignty,” emphasising that its security is a matter of economic resilience, social stability, and national security.
He noted that for too long, Namibia’s development ambitions have been constrained by water scarcity, despite the nation’s abundant economic opportunities.
“Today, we launch not merely a company. We launch a promise,” he declared, referring to a pledge to secure the water Namibia needs, attract investment, and build a prosperous nation.
The project represents the culmination of more than 21 years of planning, technical studies, and complex negotiations.
It has evolved through various phases, including the earlier SS1 desalination concept, before ultimately taking shape as the current venture.
The last six years were particularly intensive, characterised by commercial restructuring and stakeholder engagement aimed at developing a sustainable and bankable model capable of balancing national interests, affordability, and long-term operational sustainability.
The successful establishment of Erongo SUNAM Desalination (Pty) Ltd is a direct outcome of a Cabinet decision and demonstrates the government’s commitment to addressing one of Namibia’s most pressing development constraints.
Valued at approximately N$2.1 billion, the project will deliver around 20 million cubic metres of desalinated water annually.
This supply will strengthen water security in the Erongo Region, one of Namibia’s most important economic hubs, while supporting industrial development, municipal growth, mining expansion, and future energy projects.
The plant will provide a climate-resilient source of water, serving as a cornerstone of Namibia’s long-term sustainability agenda and directly supporting development objectives under Vision 2030, the Harambee Prosperity Plans, and NDP6.
The economic impact of the project is expected to be significant, as it will play a pivotal role in supporting approximately US$2.8 billion in committed mining-sector investments.
This includes major developments such as the Etango Project, the Tumas Project, and the Swakop Uranium Heap Leach Expansion, which are dependent on long-term water availability.
The Prime Minister noted that securing reliable water supply means securing jobs, mining continuity, national development targets, fiscal stability, and the long-term protection of groundwater resources for future generations.
The project is structured as a landmark public-private partnership, established as a joint venture between NamWater and Swakop Uranium following a Cabinet resolution.
Under the agreement, Swakop Uranium holds a 70% shareholding, while NamWater holds 30%. The government has committed N$200 million in equity support, underscoring its confidence in the project’s strategic importance.
This structure was deliberately chosen to minimise risk to taxpayers, with Swakop Uranium’s long-term demand for water making the project bankable and allowing lenders to fund 60% of the construction cost.
Ngurare described the company as a strategic instrument of national policy, designed to mobilise investment and expertise while maintaining Namibian ownership and sovereignty.
He further emphasised that the daily reality for Namibians will remain unchanged, as NamWater continues to be the sole supplier of every drop of water the plant produces to the country’s municipalities, mines, and communities.
He said what changes is not who Namibians get their water from, but where that water now comes from and how reliably it flows.
The government and NamWater remain committed to the gradual transfer of operational skills, with the objective of NamWater assuming an increasing level of operatorship over time as local technical expertise is strengthened.
Beyond water security, the project is expected to create substantial opportunities for Namibians through construction activities, operational employment, skills development, and local enterprise participation.
Ngurare highlighted that major infrastructure investments create opportunities not only for engineers and technical professionals but also for artisans, entrepreneurs, and young Namibians seeking meaningful economic participation.
“As we invest in infrastructure of this scale, we are not just laying pipes. We are laying foundations for livelihoods that will endure for decades,” he stated.
The Erongo SUNAM Desalination Project is expected to achieve financial close in July 2026, with commercial operations targeted for June 2028.
Once operational, it will become one of Namibia’s most significant strategic water infrastructure assets, strengthening resilience against drought and ensuring long-term water security for generations to come.
Concluding the launch, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the project’s success, declaring that “water security is, and shall remain, a matter of national security.”
