Allexer Namundjembo
Namibia has joined a continental drive to connect 300 million people to electricity by 2030 with the launch of its National Energy Compact under the Mission 300 initiative on Thursday in Windhoek.
Mission 300 is an Africa-wide effort aimed at expanding access to electricity, and Namibia’s participation centres on a National Energy Compact that sets out country-specific reforms, targets, and implementation plans aligned with the continental agenda.
The Compact commits Namibia to coordinated actions to increase electricity connections, improve supply reliability, and strengthen energy security to support economic transformation.
Industries, mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse said the Compact marks a move away from broad policy commitments toward practical implementation and measurable results.
He said the document was developed through an extensive consultation process that involved communities, regional authorities, utilities, financial institutions, civil society organisations and academic institutions.
Key stakeholders included NamPower and electricity distributors such as Cenored, Nored, Erongo RED, Sored, the City of Windhoek, and Oshakati Premier Electric Utility.
These entities raised issues around affordability, infrastructure limits, and implementation challenges.
The private sector, especially renewable energy developers, also contributed, alongside civil society organisations focused on social and economic impacts, gender inclusion, and community empowerment.
Academic input came from the Namibia University of Science and Technology, while development partners supported technical planning.
Amutse said the Compact firmly anchors energy access within Namibia’s national development goals, ensuring that electrification efforts remain coordinated, sustainable and aligned with long-term planning.
He added that the document went through national governance processes, including cabinet and cabinet committee reviews, to ensure alignment with national priorities.
Under the sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), Namibia aims to connect 200 000 households to electricity during the plan period.
The Compact provides a framework to meet this target and sets goals of 80% electricity self-sufficiency and 70% renewable energy in the generation mix.
About 40% of Namibia’s electricity is currently generated locally, with the rest imported.
Amutse said reducing reliance on imports is urgent.
“Energy security is economic security, and we must change this trajectory,” he said.
He said expanding access remains critical, as about half of the population still lacks electricity, mainly in rural areas.
The government plans to expand the country’s energy needs with solar and wind resources while exploring long-term options such as nuclear energy, given the country’s uranium reserves.
It also plans to strengthen transmission infrastructure to support regional projects like the Angola–Namibia interconnector and the Zizabona project, which aim to boost electricity trade in Southern Africa.
“The Compact recognises that achieving universal access will require both public and private sector involvement,” Amutse said.
He said commercially viable projects should attract private investment, whereas the government will support developmental projects through partnerships, grants and concessional financing.
