The National Energy Policy of 2017 is a sectoral document aiming to ensure the development of Namibia’s natural capital and its sustainable use for the benefit of the country’s social, economic and environmental well-being. It is an expression of Government’s official energy-related position and strategic intent to see the energy sector develop, in alignment with Vision 2030, for the benefit of all Namibians. The Government recognises that energy sector activities must focus on local energy resources and that these national energy riches must be developed for productive use across the country’s economy. Secure, reliable and competitively priced energy is the feedstock of the development of commercial and industrial sectors. The National Energy Policy’s main goals are to (i) ensure the security of all relevant energy supplies to the country; (ii) create cost-effective, affordable, reliable and equitable access to energy for all Namibians; (iii) promote the efficient use of all forms of energy; (iv) incentivise the discovery, development and productive use of the country’s diverse energy resources. As a fundamental requirement, the National Energy Policy mandates that all energy-sector stakeholders adhere to best-practice health and safety standards in all energy-related projects and activities and ensure compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Policy’s objectives are that (i) all energy-related activities ensure that the environment is protected and resources are used in a sustainable manner; (ii) affordability is recognised as a key determinant in ensuring that availability of and access to modern energy supplies is meaningful to individuals and industry alike; (iii) opportunities are systematically created to increase the share of local content providers throughout the Namibian energy industry, local participation is actively promoted across the sector’s multiple value chains, and broad-based economic empowerment is integrated into the planning approaches and structures of the country’s energy industry; (iv) both regional and international commitments are considered and actively support the development of the country’s energy industry; (v) ambitious realism is practiced by ensuring that energy projects can attract the necessary funding and that they are implementable; (vi) transparency and good governance are practiced in all energy-related regulatory processes, market operations and project developments. The National Energy Policy outlines the main policy issues and corresponding policy statements for each of Namibia’s principal energy sectors, namely, the electricity sector, upstream oil and gas sector, downstream liquid fuels sector, downstream gas sector, and thermal energy sector. It also includes a section addressing cross-cutting themes, which cover policy issues relevant to two or more of these energy sectors, as follows (i) for the electricity sector, the key policy priorities are to develop domestic electricity generation capacity to enhance security of supply through appropriate national-level planning; review the existing electricity market model; ensure the continued viability and development of transmission and distribution networks; strengthen the regulatory framework; and guide the future composition of the electricity generation mix; (ii) for the upstream oil and gas sector, the key policy priorities are to attract investment in further exploration of Namibia’s oil and gas potential, strengthen sectoral capacity and regulatory oversight to facilitate such investment, and safeguard Namibia’s national interests; (iii) for the downstream liquid fuels sector, the key policy priorities are to enhance security of supply through increased fuel storage capacity, the development of supporting infrastructure, and market diversification, while improving access to liquid fuel products, particularly in remote areas of the country; (iv) for the downstream gas and thermal energy sectors, the key policy priorities are to promote the commercialisation of Namibia’s natural gas resources and advance the development and formalisation of both sectors through appropriate regulation and market development; (v) regarding cross-cutting themes, the key policy priorities are to improve access to energy services for households, rural businesses, and institutions; develop and strengthen processes and frameworks that address national energy-sector priorities, including local content development, capacity building, and economic empowerment; and enhance regional and international cooperation.
Намибия · 2017-07-01