The main stakeholders of this project and their role in CSP development are assessed.
Government Ministries:
Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) is the main stakeholder for this project and essential partner for the realization of CSP technologies in the country. Its mission is to promote, facilitate and regulate responsible development and sustainable utilization of Namibia’s mineral, geological and energy resources through competent staff, innovation, and research and to collaborate with stakeholders in a favorable environment for the benefit of all Namibians. As the custodian of Namibia’s energy sector, the MME sets policy and provides funding to the industry, for example by providing monies for the extension of the country’s rural electrification infrastructure. The MME has introduced independent power production schemes and reforms through the ECB, such as increasing low electricity tariffs up to international levels. Institutional reforms of existing power utility, including the establishment of independent power production schemes, aim to shift the power sector away from its monopolistic and centralized structure. The Government of Namibia is desirous to integrate RE into its national energy mix and has engaged the MME on its behalf to finalize a RE policy and regulatory framework that is to draft a law facilitating a wider adoption of RE technologies and methods for energy production and thus reduce dependence on electricity import.
Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET)develops policy options for addressing climate change across different sectors and economic activities. MET is an essential partner to CSP TT NAM which is a greenhouse gas abatement and clean technology driven project. As of June 2008, Namibia has an acting Designated National Authority that has successfully reviewed and approved the first Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project to contend for registration with CDM Executive Board. Since the compliance and voluntary markets are both designed to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, both markets are in the beginning stages of development in Namibia. The CSP TT NAM project lays the foundation for the CDM, a mechanism to involve Namibia in GHG emission reductions activities.
Ministry of Finance (MOF) provides financial support through budget allocation to Line Ministries including MME and GRN institutions involved in RETs, RE-EE development and RET/EE projects that may benefit from budget allocation. Due to its broad networking and collaboration with international and local stakeholders, MOF should strengthen its linkages with other development institutions such as the World Bank, IFC, African Development Bank, the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA), donors such as JICA, KfW/GTZ, AFD, to mainstream investment planning of CSP projects whether public or private.
There is, however, a need to consider what governmental structure is needed to ensure that CSP TT Nam is mainstreamed into development planning and poverty reduction plans at Ministry of Finance level in collaboration with the National Planning Commission (NPC). If a significant portion of the investment comes from the private sector, the required fund flows to create a CSP industry or market will surpass the capacity of the relevant government agencies. As such, GRN through MOF will need to devise policies, incentives and regulation to turn private initiatives towards strengthening CSP industry in Namibia. MoF’s selection criteria for the CSP TT NAM Project will need to address issues such as the Project meeting Namibia’s sustainable development strategies, its objectives to reduce poverty, and its goals on providing new jobs or stimulating a new industry.
Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI)ensure a continually responsive, investor-friendly climate with incentives. CSP TT NAM project may benefit from MTI-backed incentives to stimulate investment and generate employment. Many of these are covered by acts of Parliament that are passed from time to time and by short-term tax breaks contained in budget statements. General incentives for companies setting up projects in Namibia under the MTI that could increase the viability of renewable energy investors include:
Widening the incentive range from the provision of significant tax deductions to concessional loans and indirect subsidies on marketing and training costs.
Provision of tax abatement of 50% for manufacturing activity;
Writing off provisions of up to 20% or less annually on buildings erected for manufacturing and processing purposes; and
Deductions for marketing, training, wage, and feasibility study costs.
Regulatory / Utility Sector Agencies
Electricity Control Board (ECB) has the core responsibility of regulating electricity generation, transmission, distribution, supply, import and export in Namibia and as such,responsible to control and regulate the provision, use and consumption of electricity in Namibia, to oversee the efficient functioning and development of the industry, and security of electricity provision, to ensure that a competitive environment in the electricity industry is maintained, and to promote private sector investment in the electricity industry. Importance to the CSP TT NAM Project, the ECB defines quality of supply standards, approves tariffs, and grants generation, transmission and distribution licenses. The main task of the ECB on the CSP project will be issuing of a license for the independent power producer (IPP) and to monitor that the licensee fulfils the requirements and conditions included in the license. Figure 8 shows the steps a CSP IPP application will go through before a license is finally issued or refused.
Figure9:Application License Procedure
NamPower is the national power utility of Namibia and specializes in the generation and transmission of electricity. NamPower’s main objectives are the availability, affordability and accessibility of electricity to as many Namibians as possible within the shortest possible time. NamPower's main sources of power are the thermal coal-fired Van Eck Power Station outside Windhoek, the hydroelectric plant at the Ruacana Falls in the Kunene Region, and the standby diesel-driven Paratus Power Station at Walvis Bay. NamPower also has a world-class transmission network. As an electricity company NamPower understands that electricity invariably plays an important role in the socio-economic development of Namibia and is supportive to a number of renewable energy projects in the country such as the Tsumkwe Hybrid Energy project and Combating Bush Electricity for Namibia Development (CBEND) project. Presently, NamPower is the only bulk supplier of electricity. The national utility generates electricity, transmits this via its transmission networks, and also manages all electricity imports and exports to/from Namibia. The electricity supply value chain is shown on Figure 9. NamPower is an essential partner in CSP TT NAM project.
Regional Electricity Distributors (REDs)
Other actors within the ESI are the Regional Electricity Distributors (REDs), of which NORED, CENORED and ErongoRED are currently operational. The CSP TT NAM Project is earmarked to be constructed either in Erongo Region in the west or Karas Region in the south or Otjozondjupa Region in the central; the Southern RED is pending operationalization. Of importance to the CSP IPP will be the REDs who are the potential off-takers or investors in the CSP TT NAM project.
Figure 9: Electricity Supply (ESI) Industry Value Chain
Activities
Operations of power stations and production of electricity, i.e. the 120MW Van Eck coal-fired plant, the 24MW HFO powered Paratus plant and the 249MW Ruacana plant (hydro)
High-voltage, long-distance transmission of electricity between generator and distributor
Regional distribution of electricity from the national grid