Electricity Control Board License Application In Namibia

ELECTRICITY LICENCES IN NAMIBIA

The function of administering and managing electricity licences is bestowed on the Electricity Control Board (ECB) as established by the Electricity Act, The submission, evaluation and management of all electricity licences reside with ECB. However, the power to grant or refuse licences resides with the Minister of Mines and Energy, upon recommendation and based on the evaluation made by ECB.

Electricity Control Board License Application In Namibia

An application for a license is made in the prescribed form which can be downloaded https://www.ecb.org.na/index.php/licensing/licenseapplication-procedure

The following information is required when completing an application form:

(a) Particulars of individual such as name, ID number, address, contact
number etc. or in case of a company documents such as company
registration, signed resolution of the board approving the submission,
shareholding structure, etc. to prove the legality of such an application.

(b) An accurate map to indicate where the plant will be situated plus a
temporary or permanent right to the land on which the plant will be
located to prove that the concerned Licencee has rights or can acquire
the land required to carry out the said activities.Read Also:   IUM Special Examination 2020

(c) Technical and economic-financial details including design description, complete tariff schedules, calculation of the net present value of the proposed plant to prove the business case

NB: For further information, please visit the ECB website at www.ecb.org.na.

What happens to my application once it is submitted?

During the evaluation and in dealing with any licence application the steps below are followed:

4.1. The ECB secretariat carries out a preliminary evaluation and assesses the completeness of the licence application.

4.2. The licence application is advertised in any of the local English newspapers. The purpose is so that any aggrieved parties can object to the licence application within 30 days after the advert placement.

4.3. A complete evaluation is done parallel to the 30 days, and in addition to that, any objection received is considered by the ECB. Where necessary a
public hearing can be scheduled, and both the applicant & objector(s) are informed not less than 14 days from the hearing date.

4.4. Not later than 30 days after the hearing, if any, or 30 days after the objection period expires, the ECB must submit the licencee application with their recommendation to the Minister.

4.5. The Minister may grant or refuse to issues the licence applied based on the recommendation by the ECB.

NB: If the application for the issue of licence is refused the Minister should inform the applicant in writing stating reasons for such a refusal.

Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation criteria used to assess the Licence application are summaries as follow:

5.1. Possible impacts on the environment and the rights and operations of others versus the benefits arising from grading a Licence. The Minister may require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be conducted.

5.2 Adequate technical and economic-financial resources of the prospective Licencee to successfully conduct its Licenced business considering the technical and economic-fnancial viability of the project.

5.3 The ability of the application to provide adequate and sustainable services to the customers.

2.4 Whether the grant or refusal of the Licence is in the public interest

NB: The above list is not an exhaustive list of criteria and the ECB or the Minister may take into account any other relevant evaluation criteria.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Does Namibia import electricity?

Currently, Namibia imports most of its electricity from South Africa and other countries in the region. A special arrangement between NamPower and Eskom, the South African Power utility, enables Namibia to buy and utilise the surplus energy from SA at affordable rates.

What are the available sources of renewable energy for Namibia?

A country like Namibia has abundant renewable energy sources like solar, wind, wave and biomass. By 2020 these resources could contribute up to 20% of the national electricity production. Within the next 10 years, technologies like wind, solar hydro and biomass could become economically viable without any subsidies.

What is NamPower?

Namibia Power Corporation (Pty), commonly known as NamPower, is the national electric power utility company of Namibia. The company is responsible for generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in the country.

Where does Namibia get its electricity from?

Namibia’s top energy sources are petroleum, hydropower, imported electricity, and imported coal. The country’s own internal resources supply less than one-third of its needed energy requirements. Namibia has high potential for solar, wind and biomass generation.

What plug sockets are used in Namibia?

In Namibia the power plugs and sockets are of type D and M. The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Is NamPower a private company?

NamPower, Namibia’s national power utility, was born out of the then South West Africa Water and Electricity Corporation (SWAWEK). SWAWEK was formed on 19 December 1964 as a private and fully affiliated company of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of the Republic of South Africa.

Does Namibia have oil reserves?

An estimated 11 billion barrels in oil reserves have been found off Namibia’s coast, with the first production planned within four years, mines and energy minister Isak Katali announced Wednesday.

How many different types of 220v plugs are there?

There are two main types of 220 outlets, and they require extra precautions and special equipment for wiring. Wiring 220 outlets can be particularly dangerous, so hire a professional electrician, unless you are very experienced with electrical work.

What does a Type D plug look like?

India has standardized on a plug which was originally defined in British Standard 546 (the standard in Great Britain before 1947). This 5 amp plug has three round prongs that form a triangle. The central earth pin is 20.6 mm long and has a diameter of 7.1 mm.

Where can biomass be used?

Biomass continues to be an important fuel in many countries, especially for cooking and heating in developing countries. The use of biomass fuels for transportation and for electricity generation is increasing in many developed countries as a means of avoiding carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use.

Does Namibia export electricity?

It offers private sector entities tools and resources to facilitate doing business in Africa’s power sector. Namibia has long relied on imported power from South Africa (Eskom), but South Africa’s own economy has put strains on its domestic electricity generation capability and thus its ability to export.

What voltage does Namibia use?

Namibia operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.