On 29 September 2026, Hon Gaudentia Kröhne, Deputy Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, delivered a keynote address at the launch of NamPower’s Integrated Strategic Business Plan 2026–2030. The event marked a significant milestone for NamPower, celebrating 30 years of operation. Kröhne spoke on behalf of the Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Hon. Modestus Amutse. The plan aims to drive Namibia’s industrial growth through affordable and reliable electricity.
Kröhne highlighted the importance of electricity in improving the lives of Namibians, citing examples of two individuals, Nangura and Anna. Nangura, a learner from a village outside Rundu, aspires to become a doctor but faces challenges due to limited access to electricity. Anna, a vegetable vendor in Tses, struggles to keep her produce cool, resulting in losses. Kröhne emphasized that electricity can provide both of them with better opportunities.
The Deputy Minister acknowledged the efforts of NamPower staff, past and present, in making electricity accessible to many Namibians. She outlined the government’s vision for an industrial Namibia that creates decent work and narrows the distance between families with and without access to basic services. Electricity is a crucial component of this vision, with a focus on who receives it, its cost, and reliability.
Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan sets a target of 70 percent national electricity access by 2030. The plan also aims to increase local generation and strengthen power lines. The National Energy Policy emphasizes that access to electricity has little meaning if it is beyond people’s means. These government responsibilities provide a national purpose for NamPower’s new Integrated Strategic Business Plan.
Kröhne used the example of lithium to illustrate the potential for value addition in Namibia. She noted that while mining lithium, nickel, and cobalt accounts for only a small percentage of the sales value along the battery chain, the mine is only the beginning of the economic story. The government aims to explore viable opportunities for further processing and beneficiation of minerals.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that each step in the value chain requires skills, water, a market, and power at a competitive price. She called for a deliberate approach to developing the energy sector, ensuring that electricity is accessible and affordable for all Namibians. This, she believes, will drive industrial growth and create jobs.
The launch of NamPower’s Integrated Strategic Business Plan 2026–2030 marks a significant step towards achieving Namibia’s energy goals. The plan is expected to guide the country’s energy sector development over the next five years, with a focus on increasing access, reliability, and affordability of electricity.
Key points
- NamPower aims to increase national electricity access to 70 percent by 2030.
- The government seeks to promote value addition in the mining sector through further processing and beneficiation of minerals.
- Affordable and reliable electricity is crucial for driving Namibia’s industrial growth and creating jobs.
