- June 10, 2016
- Erongo RED News
On Thursday, 4 September Erongo RED attained another milestone when 51 houses got connected to the grid. A similar event also took place on Friday, 5 September 2014 in Karibib and Usakos and again the communities in these towns witnessed the connection of 32 houses in Karibib and 72 houses in Usakos to the local grid respectively. These ceremonies were graced with the presence of various Chief Executives Officers, Mayors and Local and Regional Councilors. Erongo RED Management and Board of Directors also attended these ceremonies and beneficiaries of the electrification project.
Addressing the communities at all the events was one of Erongo RED’s Board members, Mr. Erenst Wetha who said that “as part of its mandate to increase access to electricity among low income consumers, Erongo RED has always supported the communities and these events are once again a clear testimony of that”. Access to electricity remains one of the challenges encountered by the consumers and it remains a priority that needs urgent attention if we want to achieve Vision 2030. This is an enormous task which cannot be achieved without the concerted effort and support of all stakeholders. Wetha further added.
Since 2013 Erongo RED embarked on the project called “power to the people” whereby about N$34 Million was spend to date on electrification and land development. Henties Bay, Swakopmund and Uis were the first beneficiaries from this project and now Omaruru, Karibib and Usakos have been added to this list. Erongo RED has also identified four (4) rural communities namely Otjimbingwe and surrounding areas, Okamapuku, Otjohorongo and Okombahe and plans are also underway to also get this communities connected to the grid.
The power to the people project is part of the company’s vision to bring electricity to all by 2020. “Although, progress is being made with regard to the electrification, there are still a lot of people who still do not have electricity especially in the informal settlement areas. We have taken note of it and will are full aware of the pleas of this people. We are currently looking at possible and workable solutions on how to bring electricity to this people as well” said Wetha.
