Namibia: Govt to Harness Solar Power

[jpak]

http://allafrica.com/stories/200708030921.html

Stakeholders in the energy sector met yesterday in Windhoek to discuss the implementation of a Cabinet directive to install solar water heaters in all government and parastatal buildings. This is one of the proposed energy-saving measures.

Namibia spends N$100-million per year on electricity to heat water.

The Minister of Mines and Energy, Erkki Nghimtina, said during the consultative meeting yesterday that due to economic benefits that come with the use of solar energy, Cabinet approved on June 5 the off-grid energization master plan and solar water heater for all government and parastatal buildings. The Solar Water Heater concept was submitted to cabinet in May 2007.

Nghimtina could not indicate how soon solar heaters will be installed in all government buildings. However, Cabinet agreed that the promotion of solar water heaters should become the automatic choice for water-heating in all its institutions with immediate effect.

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