Rehoboth upgrades main substation
The Rehoboth Town Council has commissioned the upgraded Block F Main Substation, a key infrastructure project aimed at improving the reliability of electricity supply for residents and businesses. Officially unveiling the facility, Mayor Jacky ≠Khariseb said the project represented more than the completion of new electrical infrastructure, describing it as a symbol of progress, resilience and the council's commitment to improving essential services.
Acting Chief Electrician Josef Shivute said the upgraded substation marked a significant step in modernising Rehoboth's ageing electricity network. He thanked the project's electrical contractor, Megatron Namibia, civil contractor Amanzi Kasongo Investment CC and consulting engineers GFSA Consulting Engineers for delivering the project.
Shivute said the previous main substation was destroyed by fire, resulting in electrical faults that often disrupted power supply across large parts of the town. Locating and restoring faults had become both difficult and time-consuming. The new facility is equipped with compact switchgear technology that enables faults to be detected and isolated more quickly, reducing the extent and duration of power outages while improving operational safety and increasing the network's capacity to meet growing electricity demand.
≠Khariseb said reliable electricity was essential for community development, supporting households, businesses, schools, healthcare facilities and economic growth. He acknowledged the financial challenges facing local authorities across Namibia but said the council remained committed to investing in infrastructure despite limited resources. He also urged residents to pay their municipal accounts, saying sustainable service delivery depended on a partnership between the council and the community.
Management Committee chairperson Gaob Kawango called on residents to safeguard public infrastructure, warning against vandalism of council property. He also expressed disappointment at the low public turnout for the commissioning ceremony, noting that while the council is frequently criticised over service delivery, development projects are not always met with the same level of public support.
Strategic Executive for Technical Services Rudolf Muhembo said several recently completed municipal projects had already been vandalised. He urged residents to protect public infrastructure, stressing that it belonged to the people of Rehoboth. The commissioning of the Block F Main Substation forms part of the Rehoboth Town Council's ongoing efforts to strengthen municipal infrastructure and provide more reliable and efficient services to support the town's future growth.
