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dam-l Namibian Dam output drops
>From The Namibian, Aug. 10
Ruacana's output dropped by
29%
THE power output of the Ruacana hydropower station
dropped by 29 per cent from 854 million units in 1996
to 610 million in 1997, NamPower's latest annual
report reveals.
NamPower Managing Director Leake Hangala, in the
corporation's 1997 annual report, attributed the
reduction in power generated to the devastating
drought which affected the flow of the Kunene river.
"The reduction in units generated at Ruacana resulted
in a 22,4 per cent increase of power imported from
Eskom, South Africa, to the tune of 1 319 million
units in 1997 compared to only 1 078 million units
imported in 1996," Hangala said.
Despite this setback, Hangala said, NamPower earned
N$450 million during 1996-97 compared to N$383
million during 1995-96 financial year, recording a
17,5 per cent growth in total revenue.
However, the investment income of the corporation
remained at 30 per cent of the total income.
Hangala pointed out that units sold by NamPower
reduced to 1 700 million in 1997, compared to 1 731
million units in 1996, a decrease of 1,8 per cent.
He said that the reduction may have been caused by the
prolonged industrial action in 1996 against Gold Fields
Namibia at its then three mines at Tsumeb, Otjihase
and Kombat.
NamPower's return on its total assets has decreased
substantially from 5,91 per cent in 1996 to 3,35 per
cent in 1997. The decline is attributable mainly to the
low flow of the Kunene River.
The corporation has been paying tax since 1994 and its
total tax liability has increased considerably since then.
A joint study group was constituted to study
transmission interconnections from Ing in Democratic
Republic of Congo to South Africa through Angola
and Namibia. Power utilities from Angola, DR Congo,
Namibia and South Africa are participating in this
study, added Hangala.
The NamPower chief reiterated that rural
electrification continues to be a key performance area.
"The success of NamPower's electrification
programme is demonstrated by an 8,6 per cent
increase in customers from 1 897 in 1996 to 2 061
customers in 1997. In addition, as part of its
commitment to rural electrification, the corporation
constructed over 673 kilometres overhead lines with
voltage lower or equal to 66kv," he noted.
On training, Hangala stated that the company has
invested N$1,23 million for the period July 1996 to
June 1997 in apprenticeships.
An additional amount of N$1 million is being spent on
upgrading the existing apprenticeship training centre
to comply with the provisions of the Vocational
Training Act and to implement a new curriculum. -
Nampa
August 10, 1998
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Lori Pottinger, Director, Southern Africa Program,
and Editor, World Rivers Review
International Rivers Network
1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94703, USA
Tel. (510) 848 1155 Fax (510) 848 1008
http://www.irn.org
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