Justicia Shipena
The minister of industries, mines and energy, Natangue Ithete, has urged Karibib residents to live within town planning boundaries to benefit from electrification projects.
This comes as 47% of households are currently connected to the national grid, while 12% rely on solar energy.
“The government cannot electrify unserviced areas; therefore, the community is encouraged to ensure that they reside according to the town plan,” Ithete said during the inauguration of electrification projects in Usab, Karibib, on Thursday.
The inauguration brought electricity to 257 houses in the area.
Of these, 133 households were connected under the first service level agreement between the ministry and Erongo RED, while 124 were financed by Navachab Mine in partnership with the Karibib Town Council.
Ithete said the milestone reflects the government’s commitment to connecting every Namibian household to electricity.
“We join you today to celebrate progress and share in the joy of those who are benefiting from this project,” he said.
He announced that a second service level agreement has already been signed with Erongo RED to connect another 187 houses in Usab and extend electrification to extensions 7, 8 and the Harambee location.
“This work is already underway, with the design phase and procurement of contractors completed. The connections are expected to be completed next year, 2026,” he said.
“Every mine, factory or fishing company operating in the Erongo Region ought to contribute to the improvement of livelihood and wellbeing of the people through impactful corporate social responsibility,” he said.
The sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) targets achieving 70% electricity access by 2030.
“As a ministry, we continue to partner with local authorities and electricity distributors to connect homes, towns and villages, working steadily toward universal access to electricity by 2040,” he said.
Ithete said electricity plays a key role in improving living conditions.
“It transforms lives and is an essential component in the delivery of basic services such as water, housing, jobs, and safety,” he said.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that Namibia’s natural resources benefit its people, saying the aim is to transform national wealth into local opportunities.
Ithete called on residents to safeguard infrastructure and promote accountability.
“Let us each play our role in keeping our lights on and creating a community where theft and vandalism of infrastructure are not tolerated,” he said.
The electrification project aimed at expanding electricity access and promoting development in the Erongo region.
