NamPower
Encyclopedia
NamPower is the national power utility company of Namibia
. NamPower was founded in 1964 as the "South West Africa Water and Electricity Corporation" (SWAWEK) by the government of South Africa
. Its offices are located in Windhoek
. The early history of the company revolves around the Kunene River hydroelectric project.
generating facilities:
NamPower is planning and building a new major hydroelectric facility at Popa Falls on the Okavango River
.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
. NamPower was founded in 1964 as the "South West Africa Water and Electricity Corporation" (SWAWEK) by the government of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Its offices are located in Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
. The early history of the company revolves around the Kunene River hydroelectric project.
Operations
NamPower operates 3 major electricityElectricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
generating facilities:
- Ruacana Hydro on the Kunene River at RuacanaRuacanaRuacana is a town in Omusati Region, northern Namibia and the district capital of the Ruacana electoral constituency. It is located on the border with Angola on the river Kunene. The town is known for the picturesque Ruacana Falls nearby....
at the AngolaAngolaAngola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
n border - 240 MW - Van Eck Thermal Plant in Windhoek, powered by coalCoalCoal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
- 120 MW - Paratus Thermal Plant, powered by diesel - 18 MW - mainly a standby station
NamPower is planning and building a new major hydroelectric facility at Popa Falls on the Okavango River
Okavango River
The Okavango River is a river in southwest Africa. It is the fourth-longest river system in southern Africa, running southeastward for . It begins in Angola, where it is known as the Cubango River...
.