Namibia

Vancouver-based B2Gold says the new facility up and running at its Otjikoto mine is “one of the first fully-autonomous hybrid plants in the world”. The Canadian company is mulling leaving the 7 MW scheme in place for the nearby community after the mine closes.

World Bank Group has announced that, through its subsidiary Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), it will provide up to US$18 million in support of two 5 MW PV power plants to be constructed in Namibia.

Alten Africa has secured up to US$50 million for its planned 45.5 MWp solar PV plant in Namibia. When complete, the generated energy is expected to meet 3% of the country’s energy needs.

The 5 MW plant will be located at a cement factory near Otavi owned by local manufacturer Ohorongo Cement. The project is being developed by German independent power producer SunEQ four Investment.

The IPP will begin construction of the solar plant in early 2018. The tender was put out by Namibian state-owned utility NamPower, which will retain a 19% stake in the completed project.

The 6.4 MW solar facility will be located in Tsumeb, northern Namibia. The project was selected in a tender recently held by local utility Cenored.

Solar-powered minigrids could account for a greater slice of sub-Saharan Africa’s $740 million off-grid market, but progress is still needed throughout the region in terms of policy, financing and commercial services, the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) says in a new report.

Namibia’s Electricity Control Board (ECB) has announced the new rates applicable to PV systems installed under the government’s net-metering scheme. The new mechanism was introduced by the government in November 2016. PV projects up to 500 kVa can be developed under the scheme.