Africa-Press – Namibia. HOACHANAS in the Hardap region will next year be able to say it was the first Namibian settlement to move to solar power, establish a trust for socio-economic development and have a power purchasing agreement with NamPower.
Mariental Rural constituency councillor Deensia Swartbooi signed the agreement for the Hoachanas Solar Project on Friday for the Hoachanas Renewable Energy Development Trust and acting chief regional officer Julien Engelbrecht of the Hardap Regional Council to commence with the project.
At the occasion, the two parties appointed Namibian Engineering Corporation (NEC) to construct the solar plant.
The first phase of the project will generate 40kW of renewable energy at a cost of N$1,2 million.
Swartbooi said water and sunlight are two natural resources Namibia can utilise to ease the burden of debt upon communities, and investment in this area could generate income for socio-economic development.
“The community of Hoachanas are low-income earners. If they are not employed by the state at places such as the school and the clinic, they are dependent on agriculture ..
“The debt of just the Hardap and //Kharas regions combined to NamPower is N$335 million.
“How would these communities be able to repay such debts while their potential for earned income is so meagre?” Swartbooi asked.
The settlement will establish the plant on land rented from the Hardap Regional Council.
With the income the trust generates through the sale of electricity to the village, the community will be able to implement and support development projects over a planned term of 20 years.
These include projects such as much-needed early childhood development centres, community gardens, and feeding schemes to support the community in a sustainable manner in the long term.
During the construction phase, the project will employ 10 locals from Hoachanas.
The Electricity Control Board (ECB) is expected to review the draft power purchase agreement for regulatory overview.
The agreement was drafted with the assistance of the ECB and provides a platform for interaction between the Hoachanas Renewable Energy Development Trust and the Hardap Regional Council.
“At last, after four years, the agreement was signed. The first phase will be for 40kw, and will over the years be increased to 80kW, and thereafter 120kW,” Swartbooi said.
Schools and hostels will be the first to benefit from the 40kW installation to secure constant water availability, as the settlement uses boreholes for water. When the pumps are broken or there is no diesel, there is no water.
Hoachanas has around 3 000 residents and is located 55km east of Kalkrand.
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