A US$485 000 solar energy project is set to bring electricity to thousands of people living in informal settlements in Windhoek, Namibia.
Funded through a grant from the AfDB’s Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF), the Informal Settlement Renewable Electrification and Upgrading programme will directly benefit 50 000 households, reports ESI Africa. It will get under way this year with the preparation of feasibility and tender documents.
The three-pronged project involves installing 60 MW of solar PV panels and related batteries; drawing up an overall structural plan to identify and prioritise investment opportunities unlocked by electrification in the informal areas, such as water, roads and mobility; and providing institutional support to the municipality, such as reviewing rules and regulations and offering legal support to achieve the city’s green goals and electrification aspirations.
‘The availability of electricity will not only support the development of household activities, but also small and medium-size businesses’, which would result ‘in job creation and substantial socioeconomic impact’, the AfDB said.
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