New market rules and procurement as Namibia adapts to changing industry

Namibia is pushing ahead with plans to secure NamPower amid competition from distributed power providers and reduce reliance on imports, which currently account for around half of power consumption. In early May, the Ministry of Mines and Energy published its Electricity Supply Industry Market Framework, a new market structure allowing independent power producers (IPPs) to sell directly to large customers. The framework was approved by cabinet in mid-April and the Electricity Control Board (ECB) is drawing up rules which will come into effect on 1 September.