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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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