It’s amazing how
one can get so comfortable with your surroundings without giving
much thought to some of those things which helps to bring about the
comfort. There are quite a number of things that contribute towards
our comfort – electricity being one of them. Talk about being too
comfortable... Some time last year, we experienced a power failure
in our suburb while I was preparing dinner. I waited for about half
an hour for the power to be restored, but in vain. Guess what I
then decided? That I will go and watch TV so long until the power
returns. Now see what I mean by getting too comfortable?
The surplus
capacity of this important commodity is now diminishing, locally and
in the region, as demand thereof increased over the years and
continues to do so at a rapid pace. There has, however, been no
corresponding increment of investment in power generation over the
years.
Maximum demand
figures recorded in June and July 2005 for Namibia coupled with the
avarage increase of three percent per annum in electricity demand
over the years, indicate clearly that electricity demand is soaring,
and that we as a region need to address the situation to ensure that
we have sufficient supply for years to come.
Mind you, the
nation and the region are not sleeping. A number of electricity
generation and trans- mission projects are under discussion and
study, to identify the most feasible ones to meet our increasing
demand. Once the feasible projects are identified the next challenge
would be to source funding for their implemetation. What a
challenge!
One major plan by the SADC region, which forms part of all the
efforts to address our electricity needs, is the upcoming Regional
Electricity Investors Conference (REIC), scheduled for 19 - 21
September 2005,here in Windhoek. The conference is aimed at
attracting potential investors in the SADC electricity sector, and
to facilitate funding and investment for short and long-term
generation and transmission projects in the region.
This issue of
Watts On not only brings you matters about the status of electricity
in the region and electricity distribution in the country, but also
pays tribute to those who have committed to ensure that we have
electricity supply around the clock. Nobody wants blackouts now, do
we? So let’s appreciate what they are doing to contribute towards
part of our comfort, by keeping them in our thoughts every time we
switch on our lights, computers and the kettle for a nice cup of
coffee.
Coming to think
of it, I can feel another season approaching – can you too? Let this
issue, filled with a lot of interesting information, take you into
spring!
Enjoy
Tangeni |
