Chamwe Kaira
Construction of Namibia’s first biomass power plant is progressing with the recent arrival of steam drums from China. The N$2.64 billion project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.
NamPower said this week that the Otjikoto Biomass Power Station reached a major milestone with the delivery of two steam drums. The components are required for the plant’s two 20 MW boilers.
The steam drums were manufactured in China and transported through Walvis Bay to Tsumeb as abnormal loads. NamPower said the delivery involved detailed planning, specialised transport and coordination over long distances.
The company explained that a steam drum is the unit where water is converted into high-pressure steam, which drives electricity generation in a thermal power station.
“The arrival of the steam drums signals the project’s movement into its most critical construction phase. With a 250-tonne mobile crane already positioned on site, all is in place for offloading and installation as construction momentum continues to build,” NamPower said.
The 40 MW Otjikoto Biomass Power Station is being developed near Tsumeb.
Funding for the project includes a loan of up to €100 million from the Agence française de Développement. A €25 million grant was secured from the Mitigation Action Facility to support capital costs and build capacity in the biomass fuel supply chain.
The government contributed N$400 million to the project, citing social, environmental and economic benefits and the need to reduce electricity tariffs for consumers.
An additional €3 million grant was secured from Le Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial to support environmental research and social benefits linked to the project.
The power station will generate electricity by burning wood chips sourced from encroacher bush harvested around the site. Bush encroachment affects more than 26 million hectares of land in Namibia.
NamPower said the project will employ about 1 100 people during the construction phase. Wood chips will be supplied through a mix of long-term and ad hoc fuel supply contracts.
The project is being built by DongFang Electric International Corporation.
