The Official Newsletter of NamPower Edition 1 - 2020

In This Edition: Employees Graduate Through RPL Rural Electrification 30 years after Independence Progress on Omburu Power Plant

NamPower Centre 15 Luther Street, Windhoek; P.O Box 2864, Windhoek, Namibia; Tel: +264 61 205 4111; E-mail: [email protected] Employees Graduate Through RPL

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process NamPower’s RPL process is guided a myriad of issues such as slow or no career by which individuals receive recognition for and regulated by the NamPower progression, lack of advancement in learning experience, skills and knowledge acquired on and demotivated employees. the job or informally in the past. RPL Policy which is aligned with the NamPower’s internal RPL program aims The process, which is often used by regulatory NTA’s RPL Policy. to address these issues by ensuring and bodies or training institutions, assesses a person’s NamPower’s technical employees make up the skills or knowledge (acquired informally outside ascertaining competences through assessments majority of its workforce and among this group, of a classroom or education environment) for of the skills required for a job level. ETD are a great number of technical employees who the purpose of recognising competence against supports these employees by designing, have worked for the company for 20 or more a given set of competencies. developing and conducting these assessments, years and have acquired extensive knowledge thus empowering these employees to compete RPL in Namibia is regulated by the Namibia and skills, but have no formal qualifications. for positions/ promotions with those who have Training Authority (NTA), as per the National These employees are considered as one of formal qualifications. This process recognises RPL Policy. the company’s greatest assets as it is believed that these employees are among the richest in NamPower employees’ acquired experience, NamPower introduced the company and industry knowledge. skills and knowledge which are then assessed implementation of RPL in 2014 and equated to a formal Grade 10 certificate Although all NamPower employees undergo qualification. through its Education, Training & learning in the workplace through on the Development (ETD) Section under job training, (unfortunately) not all training is ETD also supports employees by helping identify the Human Capital Department, standardised and most of it occurs informally existing skills gaps for career advancement and/ as a part of the work process and is usually not or promotions. and is currently busy with technical assessed or certified. Thus, this lack of formal jobs in Peronmes grades 18 – 13. certification or recognition of skills lead to Since the inception of the RPL program, at least

2 NamPower WattsOn Newsletter Employees Graduate Through RPL (continued)

100 employees from various sections employees undergoing the RPL The following is the list of RPL graduates: across all regional NamPower process. As such, NamPower through offices in the country have been the Maccauvlei Learning Academy, assessed. These employees are trained 70 employees of whom 30 AMD Grade 13 Nelson Tjitaura from various sections such as Stores, have been successfully assessed Toivo Frans Modostus N Namyome L Van Wyk Security, Network Operations, Power and certified. These assessors will Opperman Rodney System Construction, Motor Vehicle be registered on the NTA national Julie Berend Workshops, Asset Maintenance, database, and will now conduct Gustav Armas GENERATION Ruacana Power Station and Anixas formal RPL assessments within Ndjabula Paulus Anixas PowerStation Power Station. Some employees NamPower, and nationwide. Grade 13 have been found “Competent” and NetOPs Grade 14 Tomas Kashongo received certification, while others The ETD Section continues to carry Haman Johannes have been found to be “Not Yet out the RPL process in NamPower Haufiku Mateus Ruacana PowerStation Competent”. in an effort to ensure that every Pameni Bernadino Grade 13 employee who seeks skills validation, Hinda Isak Simon Nangolo ETD had its first RPL graduation are recognised and awarded for Oswald Moche Nduuviteko Nduuviteko ceremony in 2019. All employees their invaluable knowledge and Kooper Hermanus Michael Simeon who have been found competent experiences. Paulus Lukas Ikasha Imasa since the inception until 2018, R Kahungi Lukas Johannes received their certificates at the Looking to the future, the ETD F Kavari Tate-ati Mokahwa ceremony. A second RPL graduation section aims to be a centre of J Shaimange Shipopyeni Shikoyeni ceremony was held in Windhoek on 7 excellence and intends to expand J Simon Taumoneni Neingo February 2020. the RPL to include higher education G Erastus Hinandendu Ambuga levels. ETD is already involved with L Kupembona Jason Letuvene In addition, ETD has deemed it adult based education, especially on T Angula Kosmos Hidulka pertinent to have internally trained the literacy aspect. E Nghishiyala Petrus Namushala and qualified RPL assessors to assess L David P Namolo MWVS Brakwater Grade 13 W Sindimba S Haidula Amadila Nahum Lazarus Kandukwa Rudolp Uirab Bartolomeus Ishitile Josua N Ndevahoma Security Ruacana Grade 13 Edward Ngairo Veiko Haupindi Simon Mokhatu

3 NamPower WattsOn Newsletter Rural Electrification 30 years after Independence

electrification programme. This is an immense achievement, given that at independence, rural electrification stood at 0%.

NamPower’s decision to join the Rural Electrification Programme was aimed at augmenting the government’s efforts to improve the citizens’ standard of life. In line with its mandate and corporate social responsibility policies, NamPower understands that to extend power to rural communities in Namibia will lead to the improvement in the quality of life and provide opportunities for economic development.

As early as 1991, NamPower started investing in rural areas and together with the Ministry of Mines and Energy, embarked upon the implementation of the Rural Electrification Programme. The utility steadily increased its rural electrification NamPower continues to play its part in the activities, thereby reducing unemployment budget to N$20 million from N$15 realisation of Namibia’s rural electrification, 30 through job creation, improve the quality years after the country’s independence. The of health and educational services, combat million since the 2011 Financial Rural Electrification Programme was initiated adverse environmental practices (deforestation) Year, and in the 2012/2013 Financial just after independence in 1990, to extend and reduce the rate of rural-urban migration. Year, an additional N$9 million was the national grid and provide electricity to rural communities. The programme targets To date, a total number of 2167 public spent on providing and installing rural communities and unelectrified public institutions and more than 50 500 homesteads prepaid metres to village councils institutions countrywide. were electrified since independence, under the ministry’s rural electrification programme. This in the Southern Region. The budget The primary objective of the Rural Electrification means that more than 90% of public institutions allocated to the programme has Programme is to provide electricity to these and more than 20% of rural homesteads are now communities, in order to improve the standard having access to electricity. The government since been increasing over the past of living, increase economic and commercial has spent over N$1.5 billion toward the rural few years.

4 NamPower WattsOn Newsletter Rural Electrification, 30 years after Independence (continued)

Priority areas to be electrified are normally and electric stoves and are not entirely chosen through the offices of the different dependent on firewood anymore and can even regional councils and based on that, NamPower store their perishable goods for longer,” the electrifies the identified areas. This is done councillor said. considering available funds. Upon commissioning of the project, 75 The latest rural area electrified under the households benefited from the project of NamPower Rural Electrification programme, which eight were businesses, while government is the Eiseb 10 area in the Otjombinde infrastructure that were electrified are the Constituency of the Omaheke Region. Eiseb Primary School, the clinic, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry sub-office and Eiseb 10 is situated about 140 kilometres from the police station. Tallismanus and approximately 380 kilometres from Gobabis, and is an exit point to Gam. The project was constructed in two phases, the Government entities found at Eiseb 10 are a first phase started in July 2015 until November school, clinic, police station, water and forestry 2016, while the second phase commenced sub-office and a shop. in December 2016 and was completed in September 2018 and officially handed over by Omaheke regional governor Festus Ueitele, said the contractor to NamPower and the Omaheke with the latest NamPower connection, clinics, Regional Council in February 2019. police stations and almost all schools in his region have been electrified with the exception The Ministry of Mines and Energy says, of one school. carrying out this noble gesture is not easy, as the realisation thereof is challenging, due to “As leadership, we are thankful of insufficient funds, budgetary constraints and NamPower’s social responsibility lengthy tender processes. In addition, there is gestures which continue to lighten a shortage of qualified electrical contracting companies, as most of the electrical companies the lives of our people in the region. are SMEs that struggle to complete the rural There are however, some rural electrification projects within the planned time areas in some regions that are not frames. connected to electricity,” Ueitele Most of the required material and equipment are related. sourced from South Africa and takes between three to four months to acquire, while grid Councillor of the Otjombinde Constituency, electrification cannot reach communities living Katjanaa Kaurivi, said his community received in remote areas. However, off-grid electricity NamPower’s gesture with open arms, as they such as solar technologies can be used. are now becoming part of the modern world through the rural electrification drive. The rural electrification policy, stipulates that only households living within a 500m radius Kaurivi said, visible differences can be detected from the transformers point can be supplied among Eiseb 10 residents and those of the with electricity. outlying areas which are not connected to electricity. Despite all these challenges, both the Government of the Republic of Namibia and “Electricity brought relief to our residents. NamPower will continue and will make sure that People now can watch television, own fridges development reaches all corners of the country.

5 NamPower WattsOn Newsletter Progress on Omburu Power Plant

NamPower is well into the As part of NamPower’s allocation, a 20MW will require a minimum local content spend of photovoltaic (PV) plant, known as the Omburu 10% of the total EPC contract value. implementation of its new five-year 20 MW PV Power Plant will be developed, Corporate Strategy and Business owned and operated by NamPower. The Plant Apart from supporting the renewable Plan (2019-2023). The strategy is will be situated approximately 12 km south-east commitments as prescribed in the Renewable of Omaruru and will be equipped with a tracking Energy Policy and National Energy Policy, geared towards ensuring reliable system that follows the sun during the day in NamPower’s renewable energy generation power supply, whilst improving order to maximise the energy production. projects will mean a reduction in the overall local generation. It is NamPower’s NamPower tariff to the customer through With the project completion date envisaged for the introduction of affordable “new-build” intention to deliver a sustainable the first quarter of 2021, NamPower’s Project renewable energy to the national grid. power supply supported by a least- Team is well on track in ensuring that the Power cost tariff path that will facilitate Plant is completed and commissioned by the In addition, to the Omburu 20MW PV Power said date. Project, NamPower is also in the process of economic growth. developing the 40 MW Otjikoto Biomass power The procurement of the Engineering, station, the 50 MW Firm (Anixas II) power station Therefore, as part of the Strategy and Business Procurement and Construction (EPC) and the 40 MW Luderitz wind power plant. Plan and in line with the National Integrated contractor is being administered by the Central Resource Plan (NIRP), the Minister of Mines and Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) on behalf Energy approved the development of 220MW of NamPower. The Bid submission deadline was of generation capacity with the emphasis of on 28 February 2020 and a total of 11 Bids were the generation mix being least cost, of which received. The evaluation of the Bids received 150MW has been allocated to NamPower is currently underway. The EPC Contractor will and 70 MW allocated to Independent Power provide a turn-key solution to NamPower and Producers.

6 NamPower WattsOn Newsletter Abuid Kaura Downs Tools

The jovial Abuid’s journey in NamPower kicked waiting for orders to be sent from this side to off as an Assistant Engineer at PTM&C in the that side,” he related. Transmission division at Brakwater, in 1996. In 1997, he became the Resident Engineer Abuid fondly remembers the previous car at the Ruacana Power Station until 1999. scheme. Abuid’s steady rise in the company continued “Things changed a lot, since the olden days when in the year 2000, he became Senior especially the change of car schemes. With the Engineer at the Technical Support Services old car scheme you felt like you worked for a of Generations at the Van Eck Power Station very nice company, because when we had the in Windhoek. He held the position until July car scheme, where we had the scheme not 2006. The hardworking engineer became the the allowance, the cars that we were driving Senior Manager for Network Operations in the belonged to NamPower, although it was Transmission Technical Business Unit in 2006, registered in your name. NamPower maintained the position he held until his retirement. the cars. When you had a breakdown, they His fondest memories of his stay at NamPower would organise someone to tow or fix or the are of his many travels all over the world. company would come and bring you another car. It felt good but it had its disadvantages too, “In Namibia I have been everywhere, you only had that one car. With the allowance, you can keep the funds or buy a small car and almost everywhere. I have been use the rest of the funds for something else,” following the lines since I started Abuid added. with network operations, 13 and After his retirement, for Abuid, business will Abuid Kaura a half years ago. And I have been continue as usual at his 2 000 hectare farm in the everywhere and then NamPower Outjo area, as he has been a part time farmer for the past 20 years. The only difference, will Abuid Kaura, the first black engineer at the allowed me to see the world. I was be the fact that he will be on the farm every then SWAWEK, downed tools at the end of in the States, Europe, Asia, Russia, day and not only on weekends and holidays. February, after 24 years of continuous service at He predominantly farms with cattle, goats and NamPower. Abuid joined the corporation at a China and South Korea. NamPower sheep. time when previously disadvantaged Namibian took me to the world, ”Abuid engineers were a scarce commodity. He was reminisced. Abuid’s advice to his former colleagues is to among the privileged few who went through continue “burning the NamPower light”. the SWAWEK-NamPower transition, shortly Throughout the years a lot changed at after independence. NamPower from the experiences Abuid was “We have been able to keep the lights on. We used to when he first started. Significant among had problems here and there but we could Abuid’s first encounter with SWAWEK was at the the changes is the procurement process which manage to get the system back online. My end of 1994 when he applied for vacation work Abuid is not so fond of. “With the previous advice would be keep on what we’ve been while he was a student, and managed to get procurement process even before SAPP, if doing and just to make it better,”. the opportunity. After completing his degree in you had a flat tyre you called the transport electrical engineering at the University of Natal colleague in Windhoek and immediately the in Durban, South Africa in 1995, he joined the tyre was already on the way. Nowadays your then-SWAWEK in 1996. car will be parked in garages for weeks, months

7 NamPower WattsOn Newsletter Jurgen Van Biljon says Goodbye

Jurgen Van Biljon still remembers the first day he to Superintendent: Windhoek Area, responsible reported for duty at SWAWEK on 1 February 1981 for Gobabis, Okahandja, Omaruru, Swakopmund at 07:15, as if it were yesterday. Thirty-nine years and Rehoboth areas. Finally in 2002, Jurgen was later, on 28 February 2020, Jurgen gracefully appointed as a Technical Advisor: Transmission. retired from the company that he grew to love The position he retires in. and diligently help build, through the different capacities and roles he has played throughout his When asked what advise he would 39 year career at NamPower. leave for the rest of his colleagues, Prior to joining SWAWEK, Jurgen completed Jurgen has the following to say: “Be his apprenticeship in Pretoria, South Africa, and on time! Because being late is a great subsequently found employment at TCL (Kombat Mine) where he worked for two years. When he indicator of indiscipline. Respect one joined NamPower in 1981, he never looked back. another and take ownership of your responsibilities. Always look at what “I stayed at NamPower for all these years because the company took good care of me. The benefits you can do for NamPower and not that come with being a NamPower employee just what NamPower can do for you”. have sustained me throughout the years”, he says. With the many delightful memories that he has created in his journey, Jurgen still fondly Jurgen began his journey as an Electrician at reminisces on the times of SWAWEK, and hopes Brakwater Workshop, now known as Asset that yesteryears camaraderie among employees, Maintenance Department. Twenty-six years old at hard work and discipline, would come back. the time, his responsibilities as a new NamPower Jurgen Van Biljon recruit included wiring meter boards and panels, “We all have the responsibility to and conducting maintenance on breakers and transformers. During this period, Jurgen received ensure that NamPower continues his authorisation as an Appointed Operator. to remain a self-sufficient and contributing company”. In 1985, he was promoted to the position of District Supervisor, based in Windhoek. A Jurgen worked his last day at NamPower on position he held for seven years before moving 28 February 2020. He is excited to spend his to Okahandja in the same capacity. He returned retirement travelling Namibia with his wife. to Windhoek three years later and was promoted

8 NamPower WattsOn Newsletter Willem Van Vuuren looks forward to Retirement

when he looks back he can only relate that working with electricity and you can’t NamPower was very good to him, as it gave him opportunities that other companies might not afford to make mistakes, otherwise have been able to give him. What Willem knows you would die. You know you always is hard work, and reaping fruits thereof. think sober,” Willem reminisced.

“The Bible tells you through hard work will you The veteran electrician said, during the earlier earn your bread. We were on standby day and days people at NamPower were more cautious. night, for 24 hours. As I am sitting here, I am According to Willem, that time there was 27 years and two months on standby, everyday no SHEW office but everyone knew the risks whether I am on holiday, Easter or during associated with the job, and there were not a Christmas, doesn’t matter, I stay on standby, lot of accidents as compared to today. He says you always stay in control,” he added. NamPower workers back then were responsible unlike today, where workers just want to sit Willem remembers how they used to be on a desk, behind a computer with no other called out nights in and out, where they would Willem van Vuuren responsibility. immediately rush to the call of duty - even Willem van Vuuren’s journey started 27 years with the clothes that they had on. He recalls a “That’s how people became bad, especially and two months ago, on 1 January 1993, at the specific day when they were called out, and he the youth of today who think they have studied then SWAWEK. With just a few more days until only came back four days later – wearing the and their studies give them experience. With his journey (with NamPower) ends, Willem is a same clothes. us, experience was gained through hard work man who is very excited about his retirement. but today people are just job-hopping, what “I remember the day when there was a big experience do they gain? Nothing. And that’s outage in Omaruru, where the town’s people why our old guys have a lot of service and “I will no longer be on standby. The were so angry with us that they did not even experience, because they believed that they only standby I will be on is for my want to sell us hamburgers and Johan Hough start at one place and gain experience so had to bring hamburgers from Windhoek. wife, and I don’t need to be at work that they can plough back that experience in There was no budging when you were called NamPower,” Willem stated. at seven-thirty. My responsibilities out. Those days there was nothing of ‘I cannot would now have changed. I will be go now’ when you were called out. Many times Willem wants to remind his fellow NamPower between Windhoek and Henties I had to buy myself underwear on the road, you employees that work should always come first. Bay, fishing and hunting, and just stay with the same clothes and just change into “We made sure that the lights are on, so those your new underwear,” he laughed. staying behind should make sure to keep them enjoying life,” a very excited Willem on. It is only when every employee plays their While working in Tsumeb, Willem related how said. part, that enable’s NamPower to power the he would be redirected to Ruacana and the nation. But unfortunately, some employees NamPower plane would come and take them to Willem started as an electrician at Brakwater, do not want to do their small part,” he said. Ruacana and while in Ruacana, another outage and later on advanced from an Electrician to a Willem believes that NamPower looks after its would be reported in Luderitz and then they Senior Engineering Assistant. He is currently a employees but that its employees do not look would fly straight from Ruacana to Luderitz. Principal Engineering Assistant, the position he after the company, as they do not want to walk will be retiring in. “During our time, we had to the extra mile for the company. go through all the ranks, there was no jumping “That’s how we used to work… we stages, there was no promotions left, right and were married to our work and if “People should look after NamPower,” was the centre like now,” Willem related. you didn’t have a good supporting retiring electrician’s message. He says, the 27 years at NamPower had a lot wife you would suffer a lot. You are NamPower wishes Willem a restful and joyous of memories, both good and bad, however retirement.

9 NamPower WattsOn Newsletter 10 NamPower WattsOn Newsletter