Namibia Commissions First Solar Wheeling Project Under National Grid Framework

Solar photovoltaic developer Sustainable Power Solutions (SPS), in partnership with B2Gold Namibia, the Oelofse family, and Fortitude, has successfully commissioned Namibia’s first solar wheeling project under NamPower’s Modified Single Buyer (MSB) Programme. The initiative marks a major milestone in opening access for independent power producers (IPPs) to supply electricity directly to large private consumers using the national grid.

The 10 MW Maxwell Solar Plant, located on Maxwell Farm approximately 50 km north of Otjiwarongo, has begun delivering renewable electricity to B2Gold’s Otjikoto Gold Mine, situated 20 km away. SPS funds, develops, and operates solar PV and battery storage projects across the commercial and industrial sectors in sub-Saharan Africa.

SPS co-founder and director Francois van Themaat stated that the successful commissioning demonstrates the viability of wheeling under the MSB framework and highlights how collaboration between private energy producers, corporate offtakers, and NamPower can accelerate renewable energy deployment.

B2Gold, Namibia’s largest gold producer, has been transitioning towards cleaner energy sources since 2015. Its 7 MW on-site solar plant, commissioned in 2018, previously supplied 13% of the Otjikoto Mine’s energy consumption. With the addition of the Maxwell Solar Plant, B2Gold expects renewable energy to contribute a significantly higher share towards meeting its power requirements.

B2Gold Namibia Country Manager John Roos affirmed the company’s commitment to becoming the country’s leader in renewable-powered mining while supporting its global target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030. He described the MSB partnership with SPS as a cost-effective and sustainable energy solution for the mining sector.

The Oelofse family, landowners and co-investors in the project, emphasized the alignment of the solar plant with their long-term conservation goals. Fortitude served as the property developer and facilitated the collaboration between SPS, B2Gold, and the Oelofse family.

The Maxwell Solar project was initiated prior to the finalization of the MSB regulatory framework, requiring close engagement with NamPower and Namibia’s Electricity Control Board to establish a workable model. SPS took on a shorter-than-usual Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) term of eight years, aligned with the life-of-mine plan for Otjikoto, instead of the conventional 20-25 year duration.

SPS confirmed future plans to expand the plant’s capacity and introduce battery storage to enhance energy reliability and grid stability.