Solar Plant at Gobabis Vocational Training Centre Inaugurated

GOBABIS: The Gobabis Vocational Training Centre witnessed the formal inauguration of its solar plant on Monday, a significant step towards sustainable energy utilization facilitated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

According to NAMPA, the Director of Technical Vocational Education and Training, on behalf of Itah Kandjii Murangi, the Minister of Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation, the new solar installation is poised to meet the entire electricity requirements of the Gobabis Vocational Centre. The facility also includes an automatic back-up generator to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

In her speech, Kandjii Murangi called upon both the beneficiaries of the Gobabis Vocational Training Centre and the broader Gobabis community to actively engage in safeguarding the solar plant. “It is imperative for every Gobabis resident to embrace this facility as their own, work hand in hand with the vocational training centre, and protect the plant from potential theft and vandalism. A well-maintained facility can inspire further generosity from our sponsors in the future,” she stated.

Kandjii Murangi emphasized the collective responsibility of the residents in safeguarding the solar plant. “This facility belongs to the people of Gobabis and the entire Omaheke Region. It is your duty to protect it. The government alone cannot shoulder this responsibility; as taxpayers, we are all part of the government and must contribute to the protection of our assets,” she underscored.

Pijoo Nganate, Governor of the Omaheke Region, also addressed the gathering, praising the Gobabis Vocational Training Centre as the youngest yet rapidly progressing vocational centre in Namibia. He highlighted the cost-saving and environmental benefits of solar electricity, noting that the centre is now capable of generating its own green electricity, thereby reducing its carbon footprint and environmental impact.

The total investment for the solar plant installation amounted to N.dollars 4.1 million. This figure encompasses the cost of the solar plant, security cameras, solar lights, fencing, and other related materials.

The Gobabis Vocational Centre joins the ranks of other vocational centres in Namibia such as the Eenhana Vocational Centre, Ongwediva Vocational Centre, and Nakayale Vocational Centre, all of which have benefitted from solar plant installations sponsored by the German government through BMZ.