Electricity: 400KV AUAS-GERUS Line

AUTHOR: Silpa Kanghono Coordinator:DigitalMarketingandEvents@RDJPublishing

AUAS-GERUSLine Courtesy:RDJConsulting

NamPower proudly hosted the formal inauguration ceremony of the 400 kilovolts (kV) AUAS -GERUS Transmission Line on 26 April 2024 This significant event marked a milestone in NamPower's endeavours, underscoring its commitment to advancing the nation's power infrastructure. The AUAS-GERUS 400kV transmission line project is a pivotal component of NamPower's ambitious 400kV Expansion Programme, which aims to augment Namibia's power transmission capabilities by extending its 400kV transmission infrastructure backbone by over 800 kilometres

The Auas-Gerus transmission project holds significant value, with an investment exceeding N$870 million Namibian Dollars, funded by NamPower. This sum comprises N$629 million allocated for the transmission line itself and N$241 million designated for the upgrade of substations The 287 km long transmission line, which will be operated at 400kV, is a strategic and crucial investments in Namibia’s electricity transmission network, as it will enable NamPower to keep pace with the evolving and increasing electricity needs of our country

This expansion will allow NamPower to accommodate the energy needs of a growing population with ever-changing needs, and an economy that is expected to show resilient return to growth Furthermore, it will facilitate the evacuation of power from new generation projects planned by NamPower (such as Omburu Solar PV, Anixas Firm Power Project, Otjikoto Biomass, Luderitz Wind, and others) as well as the private sector initiatives like independent power producers (IPPs) through the modified Single Buyer model Lastly, this expansion will also create opportunities for energy trading with other utilities within the Southern African Power Pool, as well as other private sector energy players

NamPower has encouraged these projects as a proud Namibian endeavour and facilitated by local firms. This underscores the growth of Namibian skills within the electricity sector, which is a departure from previous reliance on international firms for such endeavours One notable local entity, Power Line Africa, has collaborated extensively with NamPower on various projects in the past and has been instrumental in developing much of Namibia's transmission lines network. They have been conducting project design, procurement, and construction, (EPC) Power Line Africa serves as the EPC contractor Additionally, the construction aspects, including civil, mechanical, and electrical erection work at the Auas Substation, were managed by ADENCO-CSV Namibia Construction Consortium (Pty)

The event was attended by key stakeholders in the energy sector and was graced by the presence of the Minister of Mines and Energy, Hon. Tom Alweendo. In his keynote address, he underscored the significance milestone in our journey towards energy security and regional cooperative. “Let us retain the importance of maintaining and upgrading our strategic infrastructures to secure a bright future for generations to come through resilient network” Hon Tom Alweendo concluded

In conclusion, this project stands as a testament to NamPower's unwavering dedication to furnishing a dependable security of supply, which is a cornerstone for sustaining economic growth within our nation