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NamPower optimistic about strong Kunene flow |
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Written by Staff Reporters
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NamPower could generate more electricity this year from the Ruacana Power Station if the Kunene River maintains its current flow up to March, chief technical adviser, Reiner Jagau told the Economist this week.
The water flow into the river peaks around March and it is only then that NamPower can be in a position to say the amount of electricity that would generated, Jagau said.
“The current water flow is very good,” said Jagau.
Ruacana is Namibia's biggest source of hydro power.
Since the last week of December the Kunene has been at a level that is double what is expected at this time of the year due to strong rainfall in Angola.
Last week, NamPower informed the public and people who live along the Kunene River that the two scour gates of the diversion weir at Ruacana Power Station had been opened and were releasing water into the Kunene River at a rate of 900 cubic metres per second.
Last week, the flow in the Kunene River was 840 cubic metres per second and NamPower had predicted that this flow would increase. This week, the river was flowing at 511.4 cubic metres per second. When NamPower opened the scour gates on Thursday this week about 310 cubic metres per second of water was being released into the river.
“NamPower wishes to warn communities and individuals along the Kunene River about the additional volume of water and request people to take extra care when approaching the river,” NamPower said.
Electricity demand in Namibia peaks in June/July during the winter season and NamPower is currently undertaking a number of projects to increase its generation capacity. The projects include the setting up a 400 MW plant at Walvis Bay and importation of power from Botswana and Zimbabwe through an interconnector to be built near the Zambian border.
NamPower, which already imports power from Zambia, plans to build the Caprivi Link Interconnector at the cost of N$3 billion.
Late last year, it said it had applied for a loan from the European Investment Bank to fund the project. It is now looking at quantifying the total value of the Kudu Gas Project, which is Namibia's long term power option. The Kudu project is expected to be implemented at a cost of N$5 billion.
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