O&L Energy bags another Solar plant contract

A Joint Venture between O&L Energy, OLC Solar Energy and its strategic partner Cronimet Mining Power Solutions GmbH, together with their PDN partners was awarded another tender to construct a solar power plant.

OLC Solar Energy Director and O&L Energy Chief, Bernd Walbaum said the tender awarded to them by CENORED is the construction of a 6.4 MegaWatt (MW) Solar Plant in Tsumeb.

According to Walbaum, construction of the plant is expected to kick off mid-year with plans to be operational by the end of 2017.

Walbaum said, O&L Energy is paving way as leaders for renewable energy with a focus to be the a respected Independent Power Producer (IPP) in Namibia and he is confident that together with partners
Cronimet Power Solutions GmbH which operates as OLC Solar Energy Corporation, the project will
see the light of day.

Co-director of OLC Solar Energy and Managing Director of Cronimet Power Solutions, Steffen Kammerer said that with this second award of a highly competitive tender, by the regional energy distributor, is proof of the competitiveness of the partnership to deliver value in a maturing PV market.

Executive Chairman of the O&L Group, Sven Thieme said that environmental sustainability is critical to the future of Namibia, and expressed excitement in O&L Energy and OLC Solar Energy’s endeavors and commitment to contributing to driving the country on a path of energy self-reliance.

Thieme said that the O&L Group’s commitment to the environment is entrenched in its value of sustainability as well as its 20% carbon footprint reduction by having the appropriate policies and procedures to ensure that environmental impacts are determined, regulatory requirements are met, and suitable environmental practices are applied.

“We believe that the protection of the environment and natural resources is critical in the future sustainability of our business and our country at large.” Thieme said.

Meanwhile, the 3 MW Solar Power Plant at Arandis, a tender awarded to OLC Solar Energy by ErongoRED, is expected to be operational by May this year.

“Construction started in January, which includes earthworks, leveling the ground and putting up fences.” Crammerer said, adding that the Arandis project is the first project as an IPP for O&L Energy specifically.