Windhoek council debates N$3 million solar allocation

The City of Windhoek has set aside N$3 million for a pilot solar photovoltaic (PV) installation project on municipal buildings, as councillors debated energy costs, infrastructure priorities, and whether the full allocation should be utilised in the current financial year.

The matter, tabled during the first council meeting of the new term, stems from a recently concluded roof assessment study to determine the technical and financial viability of installing solar PV systems on selected City-owned buildings.

Presenting the item, Chairperson of the Management Committee, Austin Kwenani, said the assessment followed the council’s approved renewable energy policy. “Following council’s approved policy on renewable energy, the Municipal Council of Windhoek is in the planning phase to roll out solar PV installations on all Municipal Council of Windhoek-owned buildings as part of an energy-saving strategy, as well as to contribute to the global fight against carbon footprint reduction and emissions to mitigate climate change,” they said.

The assessment, conducted over three months, focused on three sites, including buildings at the Ramatex complex, the head office, and the electricity department. However, officials confirmed that only buildings fully owned by the City were considered.

The feasibility findings revealed significant structural challenges at Ramatex. Councillor Ignatius Semba noted that the two Ramatex buildings assessed were unsuitable for solar installation in their current condition.

“The two Ramatex buildings are out of question because they need something like N$88.5 million for us to be able to have a roofing that can deal with the solar system that we want to put there,” Semba said.

Debate intensified over the financial implications. While N$3 million is available for the pilot, the submission proposed allocating N$2.3 million for procurement of services for supply and installation at the head office and electricity department.

Councillor Maitjituavi Kavetu questioned why the full amount was not being used. “Currently, we have N$3 million available, but we are only availing N$2.3 million. We want to send back N$700 000. For what?” he asked.

He pointed out that the electricity department alone requires an estimated N$3.6 million for upgrades, while the head office would require N$12.7 million according to the feasibility and payback model. “If there is N$3 million, take the N$3 million. You might not get anything else in the next financial year,” Kavetu said, cautioning that a new council could not guarantee future capital allocations.

Other councillors urged caution, stressing the need to respect institutional processes and the purpose of the item, which was to note the outcome of the assessment. “The item is here to give us the report of the assessment made,” one councillor said, adding that further buildings could be added after successful completion of the pilot phase.

Calls were also made for a possible second opinion on the Ramatex findings. Councillor Ivan Skrywer argued that “one assessment is not the beginning and the end”, suggesting that alternative assessments could yield more cost-effective options.

While the solar project dominated the latter part of the meeting, earlier proceedings were marked by sharp exchanges over council priorities, particularly in light of mounting service delivery challenges.

Councillor Werner-Meck Tjihuiko expressed “serious disappointment” that the first council meeting of the term included debate on street renaming while residents grapple with pressing social issues. “This is a very, very first Council meeting for this town, the capital city… faced with so many social developmental issues, notably the issue of electricity, land delivery, housing,” the councillor said.

He warned that with heavy rains forecast and the city already experiencing downpours, potholes left unrepaired pose a growing concern. “We are still in the rainy season, and potholes are there. If you look at all the communication in newspapers, potholes here, potholes there. People are crying; they are calling. We don’t have the answer,” he said.