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Shifeta hands over 150 kilowatt solar power plant to Soris Soris Conservancy

Shifeta hands over 150 kilowatt solar power plant to Soris Soris Conservancy

The Environment and Tourism Minister, Pohamba Shifeta this week handed over a 150 kilowatt solar power plant to the Soris Soris Conservancy in the Kunene Region which will greatly contribute to the ministry’s renewable energy and energy efficiency targets.

The project, facilitated under the “Empower to Adapt – Creating Climate Change Resilient Livelihoods through Community Based Natural Resource Management in Namibia” (CBNRM EDA) grants is set to benefit a total of 9200 people and so far created 25 jobs.

Furthermore, through the project, numerous community members received training and 4 women are being trained on the operation, maintenance and administration of the plant.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, in Khorixas, Shifeta said that the increased use of renewable energy will not only cushion the country from the adverse effects of climate change but also act as a catalyst for enhancing rural development through the promotion of better conditions for women to access better education and health services, improved access to information, improved productivity and new employment opportunities.

“To the Soris Soris Conservancy Management Committee, please ensure sound financial accountability for the local revolving funds from this intervention. This project is a flagship intervention both nationally and internationally,” Shifeta said.

The minister further urged the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia to exert efforts in mobilizing more financial resources for other regions so that they too can benefit from interventions such as this. The CBNRM EDA grant has availed funding worth N$ 130 million to Community-Based projects.


 

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Donald Matthys

Donald Matthys has been part of the media fraternity since 2015. He has been working at the Namibia Economist for the past three years mainly covering business, tourism and agriculture. Donald occasionally refers to himself as a theatre maker and has staged two theatre plays so far. Follow him on twitter at @zuleitmatthys