By: African mining market

The possible upgrading of a Namdeb wind project holds the potential to power diamond mining operations, while additional electricity could be transmitted into the national grid.

This is as Namdeb, equally owned by government and the De Beers Group, continues to align its operations with national goals for industrialisation, clean energy transition and sustainable development.

The proposed wind power development is located approximately 45 kilometres (km) north of Oranjemund within Namdeb’s mining licence 43.

This is where Namdeb is developing a 34 megawatts (MW) wind power plant, with the diamond company intended as the sole off-taker of the electricity generated.

Now, leveraging the capacity of both parties, an opportunity has been identified to potentially upscale the project and connect it to Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower) national grid.

To advance renewable electricity ambitions, Namdeb and the NamPower last week signed an agreement to facilitate collaboration on the development and integration of renewable electricity projects into the national grid and Namdeb’s mining operations.

The agreement marks a critical leap forward in securing a greener and more inclusive energy future for Namibia.

Namdeb’s CEO Riaan Burger and NamPower’s managing director Kahenge Haulofu signed the agreement at the NamPower head office in Windhoek.

The agreement was described as a milestone, as it reaffirms Namdeb’s ambition to achieving carbon neutrality and contributing meaningfully to national decarbonisation efforts.

“This agreement signifies more than a partnership. It is a statement of intent to power progress, responsibly and sustainably,” said Burger.

“Our ambition to become carbon-neutral is backed by tangible actions. We introduced Namibia’s first battery-electric bus in 2023 in an effort to start electrifying our vehicle fleet.

Ultimately, we intend over time to electrify as many of our mobile equipment as possible with the objective of using renewable energy to power our fleet, and to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

The Kerbehuk Wind Facility is a key milestone in this journey, with the potential to replace nearly half of our high carbon-intensity electricity,” he added.

Burger said “this collaboration with NamPower not only supports our operational goals, but also strengthens Namibia’s energy independence and climate resilience”.

Haulofu stated that “NamPower’s objective to source at least 70% of energy from renewable energy by 2030 aligns well with Namdeb’s goal of becoming carbon-neutral within the same timeframe. Furthermore, collaboration with other partners and entities is a key pillar in NamPower’s strategy.

This project fulfils the utilities’ aspirations of collaboration with partners in the energy sector. Namdeb has demonstrated innovation and transformational leadership in progressing towards a more sustainable future. We are proud to forward this national vision. This agreement will indeed pave the way for more partnerships”.

The heart of Namdeb’s operations currently take place along the southwest coast of Namibia with land-based operations in Oranjemund and satellite mines near Lüderitz and along the Orange River.

Namdeb employs several types of innovative mining techniques to extract diamonds from alluvial deposits of ore bodies.