The mining industry, the leading contributor to the country's Gross Domestic Product, has agreed on a load shedding schedule with NamPower, Otto Shikongo, President of the Chamber of Mines of Namibia, revealed this week. NamPower has not indicated when it will start load shedding but it has already posted a schedule on its website. “We are working with NamPower to find solutions to minimize the impact on the mining industry,” said Shikongo.

Power imports from South Africa's Eskom are expected to decrease after the South African utility announced last month that it would stop exporting electricity to neighbouring countries.
In a further indication that it is preparing for a shortfall in power supply, NamPower this week announced a tender to import 100,000 tonnes of steam coal for its 120-megawatt Van Eck coal power station in Windhoek.
Shikongo said all the mines in the country are working on a full-time basis towards load reduction. He added that the current arrangement with NamPower is that the mines will receive one week’s notice indicating the likelihood of load-shedding.
NamPower has already requested all large customers, including mines to reduce their load with a minimum 10%.
The mining industry’s power demand is expected to increase further this year as new uranium mines become operational.
“The productivities of the mines depend heavily on the availability of sufficient power.