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NamPower to install fourth unit at Ruacana station |
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Written by Staff Reporters
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NamPower is planning to install another power generation unit
at Ruacana Power Station, which is likely to cost it N$350 million, managing
director Paulus Shilamba has said. Shilamba said Ruacana’s original design of the 1970s allowed
for the installation of four units, of which only three were initially
installed. Norwegian firm NORPLAN has
been appointed as owner’s engineer to assist NamPower with tender documents as
well as supervision of the final installation, he said.
Shilamba said a waiver on an Environmental Impact Assessment
for the proposed installation was granted in November last year by the Ministry
of Environment and Tourism.
The pre-qualification tender process is expected to be
carried out this week, with the appointment of the contractor expected by
August 2008, he said. The estimated commissioning date of this project is June
2010, Shilamba said.
Shilamba also disclosed that four firms have expressed
interest in building a 400MW coal fired station in Walvis Bay.
“To date we have been approached by four companies, namely
Sterford (UK), Beijing Vibroflotation (China), Atlantic (Hong Kong) and Namcoal
(Germany) for negotiations of the power purchase agreement and transmission
connection agreement on the project,” he said.
Shilamba said the South African and Namibian governments had
in principle agreed to develop hydroelectric projects along the Orange River.
Talks were ongoing with private sector developers, Eskom and energy ministries from
both countries, Shilamba said.
He said the shortage of electricity supply would continue to
challenge utilities in southern Africa for the next three to five years.
He said over 600,000 CFL bulbs were distributed between
October and November last year in major load centres throughout Namibia.
NamPower is in the process of planning the distribution of
the remaining 300,000 bulbs to remaining smaller towns and government
institutions, such as clinics, hospitals, schools and hostels.
Shilamba said the four party memorandum of understanding
between the power utilities of Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia for the
transmission link between Hwange and Katima Mulilo through Zambia and Botswana
was signed in December by NamPower, ZESCO of Zambia and ZESA of Zimbabwe and
BPA of Botswana.
“Each utility will be
responsible for financing the portion of the line that passes through its
country. Respective technical committees will meet during the first week of
February in Harare to finalise arrangements for the implementation of the
project,” he said.
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