NamPower, China JV Build 100 MW Solar

June 22, 2025

Key Figures & Findings: NamPower, Namibia’s state-owned utility, has commenced construction on the 100-MW Sores Gaib Solar Power Station in partnership with Chinese firms China Jiangxi International and Zhejiang Chint New Energy. The $88.6 million solar project, located near Rosh Pinah in the Kharas Region, is expected to boost Namibia’s energy independence by reducing fossil fuel reliance and cutting energy imports. The plant will also sell its output into Namibia’s grid under NamPower’s 400-kV expansion strategy, a programme designed to curb imports and lower fossil-fuel dependence.

Statistics & Insights: Scheduled for commercial operation by June 2026, Sores Gaib is expected to generate around 270 GWh annually—enough to meet the average consumption of 180,000 Namibian households—while offsetting roughly 180,000 tCO₂e per year. Construction is forecast to create 300 direct jobs, prioritising local labour and skills transfer.

Future Implications: If energised on time, the plant could reduce imported electricity by up to 8 % in its first full year and serve as a template for NamPower’s next-wave solar tenders slated for 2027-2028. Successful delivery might also help Namibia attract concessional finance for its green-hydrogen ambitions ahead of the country’s updated NDC submission in 2029.