Chamwe Kaira
Alpha Namibia Industries Renewable Power Limited (ANIREP) has fulfilled all conditions for acquiring a 45% stake in Cerim Luderitz Energy (Pty) Ltd for N$60 million.
The company confirmed that all outstanding conditions precedent have been met. This includes the signing of the sale and purchase agreement and approvals from the Namibia Power Corporation and the Electricity Control Board.
CERIM is an Independent Power Producer developing a 50 MW (AC) wind power plant located 17 km south of Lüderitz in the ǁKaras Region. The project includes the development of 743 hectares of land and the construction of a 40 km, 132 kV transmission line to connect the plant to the Namib substation.
ANIREP anticipates the commencement of commercial operations within 18 months following the financial close. The project is backed by a 25-year power purchase agreement with NamPower, a land lease agreement in the Tsau ǁKhaeb National Park, an Environmental Clearance Certificate, and a transmission connection agreement.
The CERIM acquisition adds to ANIREP’s renewable energy portfolio, which will exceed 90 MWp in capacity by the project’s operation date. The company said its investments help address Namibia’s limited electricity supply, rising power costs, and increasing demand.
CERIM’s wind site is expected to produce energy for 4,300 hours per year, well above the industry average of 2,500 to 3,000 hours.
The project supports national goals set in the Namibia Integrated Resource Plan and the Fifth National Development Plan (NDP5), which aimed for 755 MW of installed capacity by 2022/23 and 70% renewable energy by 2030.
ANIREP is also working on a 100 MW solar farm and transmission line to supply renewable power to large electricity users under the Modified Single Buyer (MSB) Framework. The MSB framework allows entities like mines, regional distributors, and municipalities to source up to 30% of their electricity from Independent Power Producers.
According to the Electricity Control Board, there are 35 registered contestable customers in Namibia, representing demand of over 1 million MWh. ANIREP said it has developed 51 MW of the 123.7 MW committed to MSB market participants to date, which accounts for 41% of the market.
The company has secured 250 hectares of land on Portion 9 of the farm Klein Spitskop No. 153, located less than 700 m from the Kokerboom Substation in the ǁKaras Region. It also received environmental clearance for the solar farm and transmission line.
ANIREP Managing Director Iyaloo Ya Nangolo said, “The Kokerboom 100 MW Solar Farm represents a strategic expansion of ANIREP’s grid-connected renewable energy assets. With direct access to transmission infrastructure, the site is also well-suited for future integration of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to support grid stability and enable dispatchable supply to contestable customers under the MSB framework and the broader SAPP market.”
ANIREP said it is well positioned to fund the project and future developments through its N$5 billion green bond, listed in 2024.
