Chinese firm to undertake construction of Namibia's landmark biomass project

WINDHOEK, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese firm Dongfang Electric International Corporation (DEC) is set to build Namibia's Otjikoto Biomass Power Station, which will add 40 MW to the country's energy generation capacity upon completion.

Namibia's Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo highlighted the project's significance at the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday in Tsumeb in northern Namibia, emphasizing its role in reducing reliance on imported electricity and enhancing Namibia's energy security.

"Furthermore, the Otjikoto Biomass Power Station Project, once operational, will not only contribute 40 MW to NamPower's local generation mix, but will further contribute to stabilizing the national power grid with a fully dispatchable energy source which could provide baseload energy," he said.

He noted that the project will deliver several economic benefits, including improved rangelands leading to better livestock carrying capacities, increased groundwater absorption in harvested areas, and community growth through direct and indirect job creation along the fuel supply chain and power station operations.

Xiong Chao, deputy general manager of DEC, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to Namibia's electrification efforts and sustainable bush resource management.

"I believe this project will bring great benefits to the economy and Namibian people," he said, adding that bush encroachment in northern Namibia severely impacts local farmers' productivity.

"Today is a new start, together with the NamPower team and all partners, DEC will mobilize all resources to implement the first and largest biomass project in Namibia and complete this project successfully as a modeling and milestone project," he said.

State power utility NamPower currently imports over 50 percent of Namibia's annual electricity needs to meet local demand. "This thus increases the importance of this project as we seek to accelerate the implementation of planned new generation projects to meet the ever-increasing demand for electricity," Alweendo concluded.