Energy and Electrification
Mariental and Rehoboth Receive N$20 Million for Electricity Expansion
The funding comes as the Ministry inaugurates electrification projects in Burgershoek and Empelheim Extension 5, extending electricity access to underserved communities.
The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy has made an additional N$20 million available for electrification projects in the Hardap and //Kharas regions, following the inauguration of projects in Burgershoek, Rehoboth, and Empelheim Extension 5, Mariental, on Saturday.
Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse said the funding would support further electricity expansion in underserved communities across the two regions.
“The Ministry has made a further twenty million Namibian dollars available for electrification in Hardap and //Kharas. We have also made budget provision to support SORED as it becomes operational,” Amutse said.
The two projects form part of a wider programme agreed between the ministry and the Southern Regional Electricity Distributor (SORED) in June 2025 to extend electricity access to underserved communities.
Amutse said electricity would give households more opportunities to use appliances, enable children to study and support income-generating activities.
He said Rehoboth Town Council and Mariental Municipality contributed funding, staff time and practical support towards the projects.
Amutse added that the National Electrification Policy targets universal electricity access by 2040, while the Sixth National Development Plan prioritises affordable electricity and stronger distribution networks.
He also addressed the establishment of SORED, saying regional electricity distribution would allow towns to share technical staff, equipment and operational costs.
Amutse also raised Rehoboth Town Council's outstanding debt to NamPower, saying the council needed to settle its previous electricity bill while maintaining payments for current supply.
“I look forward to receiving the formal decisions from councils on participation in SORED and their plans for dealing with the NamPower debt,” Amutse said.
The launch of SORED, which was scheduled to take place in Keetmanshoop on Monday, has been postponed to give more councils time to decide whether to join the company and bring their electricity operations, revenue and staff under its management.
