Namibia’s state power utility NamPower in mid-November performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the 40MW Otjikoto biomass power plant, located near Tsumeb in the northern Oshikoto region.

China’s Dongfang Electric International Corporation is constructing the facility, work on which involves building a grate-fired biomass power plant across about 44 hectares near the Otjikoto substation.

The plant is the first of its kind in the country and will generate electricity through the combustion of wood chips sourced from encroacher bush. It will have an operational lifespan of 25 years and an annual fuel requirement of about 201,370 tonnes of biomass.

The commercial operation date has been set for the first quarter of 2027.

NamPower is the project’s executing agency. According to the firm, the Otjikoto project is guaranteed to make a lasting impact on the farming and agricultural communities in the area as Namibia is challenged by massive bush encroachment that affects over 26 million hectares of farmland, leading to billions of dollars of economic losses.

NamPower managing director Kahenge Haulofu said the company’s ambition for the scheme is not only to produce electricity, but also to bring economic growth and prosperity to the Oshikoto and Otjozondjupa regions and surrounding areas.

Dongfang’s bid for the scheme works out at about US$134 per MWh, with an evaluated price of US$147.3 million for the project.

The scheme is being funded by French development agency AFD, the Germany-based Mitigation Action Facility multi-donor fund and the government of Namibia.

The government is aiming to generate at least 80% of the country’s electricity needs by 2030 and universal access to electricity by 2040. Currently, 60% of the country’s supply comes from neighbouring states.

Photo: Groundbreaking ceremony (Source: Facebook @ NamPower)