Namibia PDNA 2009 - GFDRR

3.1.3
Energy
In the northern Regions, the damage to electricity infrastructure as a result of the floods and storms which occurred in 2009 was not
extensive compared to that normally sustained during floods, cyclones and other natural disasters. It is important to note however,
that it is highly probable that the lifespan of certain equipment may have been shortened by the effects of the flood. It is extremely
likely that the insulation of certain equipment has been damaged to a limited extent and that this damage will result in early failure. It
is thus necessary to make provision for the replacement of such equipment within a shorter period than normal. In the rural areas,
the utility could not relate cost of damages to specific locations due to the lack of an effective management information system. The
Table below outlines the damage and losses incurred in the energy sector.
Energy company
Table 14: Damage and losses incurred in the energy sector
Damage
(N$ million)
Losses
(N$ million)
Damage
(US$ million)
NORED/OPE 8.7 1.3 1.1 0.2
Losses
(US$ million)
Source: Estimations by PDNA Team
The generation and transmission infrastructure of Nampower did not suffer any damage. Damages were limited to distribution
infrastructure. The North Regional Electricity Distributor (NORED) and the Oshakati Premier Electric (OPE) were the only utilities
to suffer damages. In the Caprivi and Kavango Regions, electrical equipment did not incur any damage as a result of flooding asthe
reticulation network is overhead. Lightning strikes were the main cause of failure of small transformers and destruction of wooden
poles. The utility could not provide specific data on location of lightning strikes.
Losses are the revenue lost by the distribution utilities as a result of the disaster. In the northernR, sales of electricity rebounded
extremely rapidly and in most areas March 2009 sales compared favourably with the average of the previous 12 months. This was
due to the restoration of supply to most areas in a short period of time. In the north-eastern Regions, fewer customers were
disconnected and all have been reconnected with the exception of Mabusha Clinic and Sarasunga Lodge in Kavango and Mukusi River
Lodge in the Caprivi which were still without electricity at the time of this assessment.
Needs
The main areas of need with respect to mitigation of risk against further
flood damage are the towns of Ondangwa and Oshakati. These are the areas
with underground systems and a programme needs to be implemented to
raise the mounting levels of equipment as a matter of urgency. There needs,
however, to be a general revision of standards but this applies to the whole
area under the jurisdiction of NORED and OPE.
A general study needs to be undertaken to examine measures which can
be implemented to limit damage by lightning strikes related to conditions
caused by the long MV line lengths throughout the northern Namibian
region.
Figure 19: Flooding in a local village
OPE and NORED commenced reconstruction of the network as soon as it was possible to gain access to the affected areas. Both
OPE and NORED were able to make use of existing stocks of equipment. Temporary supply cables were connected to restore
supply to customers in Ondangwa. The permanent network is currently being reconstructed.
Connections to rural customers in Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshana and Oshikoto and clinics and lodges in Kavango and Caprivi were
restored once the premises were accessible. However, there is a possibility that the lodges may relocate due to extensive flood
damage and potential risk of future flooding.
Reconstruction costs have been financed by the utilities themselves. While the reconstruction process in this sector is almost complete,
attention needs to be paid to developing programmes to mitigate risk of possible damage by similar natural occurrences.
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