NEWS

The environment ministry, with the help of the Environmental Investment Fund, has completed the construction of a 150-killowatt solar plant, in the Kunene region.

The plant worth N$5,2 million is seen as the fund's contribution to Namibia's attainment of renewable energy and energy efficiency targets. It is also part of the Environmental Investment Fund's (EIF) climate change project.

Speaking at the handover of the solar plant to the Soris Soris conservancy in the Kunene region yesterday, environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said the project has created 25 jobs and will benefit 9 200 people.

“The project further trained people from the community and four women are being trained on solar plant operations, maintenance and administration. I cannot over-emphasise the recognition of gender mainstreaming for all the projects,” he said.

Shifeta further said the increased use of renewable energy such as solar off-grid technologies, will not only cushion Namibia from the adverse effects of climate change, but also act as a catalyst for enhancing rural development through the promotion of better conditions for women to access better education and health services, improved access to information, improved productivity and new employment opportunities.

For the solar plant and other climate change-related projects, the EIF secured N$130 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through the Enhanced Direct Access (EDA) modality for these climate change projects.

The funding is under the GCF's 'Empower to Adapt: Creating Climate Resilient Livelihoods' through Community Based Natural Resource Management in Namibia (CBNRM EDA) Project Grant Facility.

“I have been assured that certain mechanisms have been put in place that will ensure that a revolving fund is established, which will support community projects and livelihood options. To the Soris Soris conservancy Management Committee, please ensure sound financial accountability for the local revolving funds from this intervention.

“I therefore urge the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia to exert efforts in mobilising more financial resources for other regions so that they too can benefit from these wonderful interventions,” the minister said.

Kunene region governor Marius Sheya said he has reliably been informed that the solar plant project at the Sorris Sorris conservancy was successfully completed way before the expected time frame, saying it comes at an opportune time.

“The solar plant being handed over to the Sorris Sorris conservancy could not have come at a better time, especially since the Kunene region has been affected by long periods of drought that have made it difficult for the communities to adapt to the effects of climate change and to diversify their livelihoods,” Sheya said.

He noted that the region fully embraces the project, since it will not only support the programmes to achieve the climate change and community support targets as a region, but will also inevitably serve as a conduit for achieving national climate resilience objectives.