South Africa’s Minister of Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, reiterated the country’s commitment to providing electricity to Namibia during a media briefing in Windhoek. Namibia currently generates only 40% of its required energy domestically, with the remaining 60% imported from neighboring countries through the Southern African Power Pool. South Africa contributes 100 megawatts to this energy supply.
Strengthening Bilateral Relations in Energy Affairs
Dr Ramokgopa’s visit aimed to strengthen energy-related bilateral relations between the two countries. Despite the energy shortages and prolonged load shedding in South Africa, the minister reassured that these challenges would not impact the supply of energy to Namibia.
South Africa’s Energy Generation Progress
Dr Ramokgopa highlighted the progress South Africa has made in addressing its energy generation issues. The country has improved the reliability and efficiency of its energy units, resulting in an increase in energy generation capacity from 48% to over 60%. This capacity is expected to increase further in the coming months.
Potential for Collaboration in Gas-to-Power and Green Hydrogen
During their discussions, the ministers explored the potential for collaboration in the Kudu gas-to-power project and green hydrogen. Namibia’s Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, discussed the benefits of collaboration in these areas.
Partnership for Stable and Sustainable Energy Sources
The partnership between South Africa and Namibia in the energy sector is vital for both nations. Namibia’s dependence on imported energy makes South Africa’s commitment to providing electricity crucial. As the collaboration between the two countries grows, it is expected to lead to continued development in the areas of gas-to-power projects and green hydrogen, ultimately benefiting the citizens of both nations with reliable and sustainable energy sources.
