ErongoRED: Lights on for 1 800 houses in four towns by June
Project to cost around N$66.8m
ErongoRED CEO Immanuel Hanabeb said if the homes are not connected to the grid by June, salaries will not be paid, including his own.
ErongoRED plans to provide electricity to 1 800 houses in Karibib, Usakos, Henties Bay, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund before the end of June 2025 in honour of the late founding father Sam Nujoma.
This was announced by ErongoRED CEO Immanuel Hanabeb at the company’s stakeholder engagement breakfast on Wednesday in Swakopmund.
"To honour his legacy, within the next four months, we will electrify 1 800 houses in four towns in the region. We believe that is what he would have wanted,” Hanabeb said.
Hanabeb underlined that there is no reason to delay the project, as the money is available.
“We decided to fully fund this project. Usually, clients had to pay N$2 500 as part of the connection; however, now, we cover this, with the clients expected to sign an acknowledgement of debt for us to collect this money afterward. At the moment, the electrification process is scattered, as only a certain number, in certain areas or certain streets, can afford this.”
Money available
The estimated cost of this electrification project, dubbed informally as the Dr Sam Nujoma Housing Electrification Project, is N$66.8 million, Hanabeb explained.
The mines and energy will provide N$12 million, which will assist in providing electricity to houses in Karibib, Henties Bay, and Usakos (N$4 million allocated to each town), he explained.
The majority of these houses set to be electrified are located in the DRC informal settlement of Swakopmund.
No lights, no pay
Hanabeb warned staff that “if the houses are not electrified by the specified time, we will delay the salaries", adding, "including mine."
He emphasised: "We are all coming from humble beginnings. I am saying this from the perspective of our forefathers, who had to work barefoot, with no food – and if it comes down to delaying salaries for a week or switching off electricity to your home – you can choose – so that you can feel how other people are living. Why must it be difficult if the money is there, failing to implement this project? Let us improve people’s livelihoods. The money is there for the project; why does it have to be difficult?”
This was announced by ErongoRED CEO Immanuel Hanabeb at the company’s stakeholder engagement breakfast on Wednesday in Swakopmund.
"To honour his legacy, within the next four months, we will electrify 1 800 houses in four towns in the region. We believe that is what he would have wanted,” Hanabeb said.
Hanabeb underlined that there is no reason to delay the project, as the money is available.
“We decided to fully fund this project. Usually, clients had to pay N$2 500 as part of the connection; however, now, we cover this, with the clients expected to sign an acknowledgement of debt for us to collect this money afterward. At the moment, the electrification process is scattered, as only a certain number, in certain areas or certain streets, can afford this.”
Money available
The estimated cost of this electrification project, dubbed informally as the Dr Sam Nujoma Housing Electrification Project, is N$66.8 million, Hanabeb explained.
The mines and energy will provide N$12 million, which will assist in providing electricity to houses in Karibib, Henties Bay, and Usakos (N$4 million allocated to each town), he explained.
The majority of these houses set to be electrified are located in the DRC informal settlement of Swakopmund.
No lights, no pay
Hanabeb warned staff that “if the houses are not electrified by the specified time, we will delay the salaries", adding, "including mine."
He emphasised: "We are all coming from humble beginnings. I am saying this from the perspective of our forefathers, who had to work barefoot, with no food – and if it comes down to delaying salaries for a week or switching off electricity to your home – you can choose – so that you can feel how other people are living. Why must it be difficult if the money is there, failing to implement this project? Let us improve people’s livelihoods. The money is there for the project; why does it have to be difficult?”
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