Niël Terblanché
NamPower has officially broken ground on the 100 MW Sores|Gaib Power Station, which will be Namibia’s largest solar power facility.
The station is being constructed 33 kilometres northwest of Rosh Pinah.
NamPower managing director Kahenge Haulofu said the project is a major step toward expanding local electricity generation and reducing the country’s dependence on imports.
“Our country has abundant sun, and we are ready to seize the opportunities that renewable energy offers,” he said.
The name “Sores |Gaib”, meaning “Power of the Sun” in Khoekhoegowab, was chosen through an internal competition.
Haulofu said the name honours Namibia’s heritage and reflects a vision for future energy.
The project will cost N$1.6 billion. It is being funded through a N$1.3 billion loan from Germany’s development bank, KfW, with the remaining amount covered by NamPower’s own reserves.
The loan was made possible through an intergovernmental agreement between Namibia and Germany.
Once operational, the plant will feed into the national grid, cut fossil fuel use, and reduce electricity imports.
Haulofu said the project will also help strengthen Namibia’s energy independence and build climate resilience.
Construction is expected to create over 300 direct jobs, with a strong focus on hiring locally and developing skills.
The Engineering, Procurement and Construction contractor, a joint venture between China Jiangxi International Corporation and Chint New Energy Development, has committed to spending 25% of the contract value, around N$356 million, on local content.
NamPower has included environmental and social safeguards in the project’s plan, aiming to protect biodiversity and ensure meaningful community engagement.
The Sores|Gaib station forms part of NamPower’s broader energy diversification strategy.
Other projects in this plan include the 20 MW Omburu Solar PV Power Station, the 54 MW Anixas II Power Station, a planned 40 MW biomass facility, and a 54 MW Battery Energy Storage System at the Omburu Substation.
Haulofu said NamPower is also expanding transmission capacity to match the increase in generation.
This includes the completed Auas-Gerus line, the finished but not yet energised Obib-Oranjemund line, and the planned Auas-Kokerboom II line.
“We are building more than just a power plant. We are building a legacy,” he said.
The Sores | Gaib Power Station is expected to begin operations by June 2026.
