- NamPower MD Kahenge Haulofu urged the government to invest in a domestic baseload power plant to cut high tariffs and reduce reliance on imports.
- Haulofu stressed that renewables and transmission upgrades alone are insufficient, and cautioned against unregulated solar expansion.
NamPower Managing Director Kahenge Haulofu on Tuesday, July 8, urged Namibia to take immediate and coordinated action to develop a domestic baseload power plant, warning that continued reliance on electricity imports is driving up tariffs and threatening energy security.
Haulofu addressed lawmakers during a joint consultative meeting at the Namibian Parliament, stressing that Namibia’s dependence on regional suppliers, mainly South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, was no longer sustainable.
“Namibia has not developed a baseload power plant since immemorial,” Haulofu said. “If we don’t act now, we will remain dependent on others.”
He blamed high electricity tariffs on the country’s import-heavy energy mix and warned that prices would keep rising unless Namibia invests in local generation capacity.
Namibia currently imports between 60% and 70% of its electricity. Although the country has expanded solar and wind capacity, Haulofu said these renewable sources remain too intermittent to meet growing demand or guarantee supply.
He called on the government, private sector, and financial institutions to rally behind the construction of a large-scale domestic power station.
“NamPower cannot continue securing small loans to keep the system going,” Haulofu said. “We spend most of that money buying electricity and covering transmission costs. Without domestic generation, this cycle will continue.”
He also criticised over-reliance on foreign lenders like the World Bank and KfW, saying long-term energy stability requires national ownership and funding.
Haulofu further warned against the unregulated spread of solar projects, which he said could overload Namibia’s limited-capacity grid.
“Everyone wants to install solar everywhere, but our grid has limitations,” he said. “We must integrate solar responsibly, knowing it’s intermittent and needs proper management.”
Despite ongoing projects like the Omburu Solar PV Plant and the Baynes Hydro Power Project, Haulofu said Namibia still lacks a stable, large-scale baseload facility. He urged policymakers to prioritise one, arguing it would cut reliance on imports, stabilise tariffs, and protect the country from regional supply shocks.