Windhoek: The Northern Namibia Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) is taking decisive steps to mitigate persistent electricity outages in the Kavango West Region through the deployment of new technology and infrastructure enhancements. This initiative is crucial for a region where 80% of the power network services rural communities, which have been significantly affected by frequent power disruptions. According to Namibia Press Agency, the region has been experiencing widespread power outages recently, causing interruptions to essential services and financial losses for businesses and individuals. Nored's Executive for Technical Services, Petnen Frans, identified the main causes of these power interruptions as overcurrent issues, broken poles, and faulty transformers. Frans highlighted that lightning damage is a significant challenge, especially in the northern areas, with the highest frequency of interruptions occurring during the rainfall season from January to March. The utility faces operational ch allenges due to difficult terrain, floodplains, and restricted access to repair sites, which often prolong outage durations beyond regulatory standards. To combat these issues, Nored is implementing new transformer protection technology known as 'Combi units' to prevent frequent transformer failures. Additionally, lightning-damaged components are being replaced with steel structures to enhance reliability and reduce supply interruptions. A new SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system is also being introduced for real-time monitoring, with an expected live date in March or April of this year. Frans noted that this system should significantly reduce restoration times. Furthermore, Nored has deployed 10 staff members in Kavango West rural areas to oversee a 96-kilometre power line from Rundu to Mpasi and manage three stations. Data indicates improvement in reducing outage durations over the past three years, with power interruptions in Kavango West decreasing from 72 incidents in 2023 to 40 inc idents in 2025. Frans stated that the company's goal is to meet regulatory standards of a maximum of two interruptions per month for rural areas, each lasting no more than five hours. Collaborative efforts with NamPower have been established, including joint maintenance planning and shared resources such as trucks and personnel, to aid in power restoration efforts.