By Staff Reporter |
NamPower on Monday inaugurated the first digital Sekelduin Substation in Swakopmund, built at the cost of N$394 million as part of ensuring continuity of the national transmission network.
The Sekelduin Substation will now become the main transmission supply point to the existing NamPower Swakopmund and Tamariskia substations, the NamWater South bulk water supply scheme feeding the new Husab Uranium Mine, and the ErongoRed 33kV medium voltage reticulation network.
The construction of the Sekelduin Substation building commenced in July 2021 and was completed in March 2023.
Speaking during the inauguration, Deputy Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Gaudentia Krohne, said the commissioning of the Sekelduin Substation is more than the completion of a major infrastructure project. It is a clear demonstration of the commitment to strengthening energy security supporting economic growth and creating opportunities for future generations.
Krohne indicated that electricity remains the backbone of any modern economy as it powers industries, supports mines, fuels tourism, drives innovation, enables essential services such as healthcare and education, and enables job creation across sectors.
“As Namibia continues to grow and develop the demand for reliable electricity continues to increase,” Krohne said. “Our responsibility is therefore clear. We must build an energy system that is reliable, resilient, and capable of supporting both current needs and future growth, which is essential for us to achieve the ambitions set out in vision 2030 and the Sixth National development Plan.”
She stressed that the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) places strong emphasis on economic transformation, industrialisation, and the development of strategic infrastructure, including energy, as a key enabler of economic growth, inclusiveness and resilience.
NamPower Managing Director Kahenge Haulofu indicated that NamPower remains committed to strengthening and maintaining its infrastructure. Hence, these investments are crucial for preserving the transmission network’s superior condition – enabling continued, reliable, and efficient operation with minimal disruptions.
Haulofu explained that the development of Sekelduin Substation is one such key investment for NamPower as this project is NamPower’s proactive response to the growing energy needs of the Erongo region, which are driven by ongoing economic development, industrial expansion and population growth.
“This substation will play a vital role in ensuring that the electricity networks remains capable of meeting both present and future demand,” he said.
In the photo: Deputy Industries and Mines Minister Gaudentia Krohne and NamPower MD Kahenge Haulofu during the Sekelduin Substation event.
