Sheya Shuushona Lodge, Sheya Shuushona Conservancy, Otamazi Constituency, Omusati Region, 27th October 2022-The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta yesterday officiated at the handover ceremony for the solar plant at the Sheya Shuushona Conservancy Lodge funded under the CBNRM EDA Project that is implemented through the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia.
In his keynote address Hon. Pohamba Shifeta, highlighted that “access to modern energy services is one of the indices for the level of national development, worldwide. In developing countries such as Namibia, there is still quite a significant percentage of the population, without access to energy service such as electricity. Let alone the use of green energy to curb emissions”. He further stated that, it is worth noting that the increased use of renewable energy such as the solar plant being handed over today, will not only cushion us from the adverse effects of climate change but also act as a catalyst for enhancing social economic development in rural area. I have been assured that certain mechanisms have been put in place that will ensure that a revolving fund is established, which will support community projects and livelihood options in this conservancy.
Situated in the Otamazi Constituency, the Sheya Shuushona Conservancy was funded to the tune N$ 5,191,468.13 under the Ecosystem Based Adaptation investment window under the Empower to Adapt (EDA) project, which is centred around Creating Climate Change Resilient Livelihoods through Community Based Natural Resource Management in Namibia (CBNRM EDA Project).
Sheya Shuushona conservancy covers an area of 506,600 Hectares and the project size is 1 Ha. The project activities entail the establishment of a Solar Power Plant with a minimum capacity of 150 KW to provide power for the Sheya Shuushona Lodge. The project is a clear manifestation of local level empowerment and ownership as well as enterprise development through a joint venture through an off-take agreement with Namibia Exclusive Safari. The concept further embeds a local level fund ring fenced for other climate change adaptation options.
The project design is centred around the construction of a solar plant at Sheya Shuushona Lodge and Climate change awareness and capacity building for the Conservancy Management Committees.
The solar plant with a total of 216 panels with an output of 150 Kw has been developed at Sheya Shuushona Lodge in the Sheya Shuushona Conservancy. The project has to date benefited total of 3551 people and created 17 jobs have been created during the development of the solar plant. The project further trained 10 youth on solar plant operation, maintenance and administration. The solar plant. The 150 kilowatts will greatly empower the conservancy in their contribution to the tourism business and enhancing renewable energy and energy efficiency targets.
