Otjiwarongo: The newly upgraded solar plant for ANIREP-HopSol Africa at Otjiwarongo was commissioned on Thursday. Otjozondjupa Regional Council chairperson, Paulus Nekundi, officiated the commissioning on behalf of the Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse, and led a site tour of the facility located about three kilometers west of Otjiwarongo.

According to Namibia Press Agency, a statement from Amutse highlighted that the plant will contribute approximately 11 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the national grid. The energy is converted from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) before being distributed via Cenored's overhead lines.

Amutse emphasized that the solar plant is not a substitute for traditional power sources but serves as a strategic addition to Cenored's 'electricity bank'. He described the project as a sign of innovation and an investment into a reliable power supply through green energy systems.

At the event, ANIREP Managing Director Iyaloo Nangolo noted that the project marks the first solar generation facility in the country to incorporate modern battery storage. The Otjiwarongo HopSol solar plant, which initially generated about five megawatts since its inauguration in 2015, will now be able to produce approximately 13 megawatts following the expansion.

Nangolo explained that Otjiwarongo currently consumes around 10 megawatts, allowing the plant to have surplus electricity stored in the system. The solar batteries enable electricity production even at night or during cloudy conditions.

The plant upgrade, costing over N.dollars 200 million, took place from June 2024 to February 2026 and now features a total of 48,000 solar panels. The commissioning event was attended by HopSol Africa Chief Executive Officer Silvester Wayiti and business partners from Cenored, NamPower, and Huawei Technologies Namibia.

ANIREP owns the Otjiwarongo HopSol plant, confirmed Wayiti.