Namibian power utility NamPower is currently exporting electricity to its South African counterpart Eskom, which is struggling to meet demand, an official said.

“We are currently exporting up to 200MW of electricity to South Africa,” Werner Graupe, senior manager for energy trading at NamPower, told Sapa.

“The electricity comes from our Ruacana hydropower plant on the Kunene River bordering Angola. Due to the good rains experienced in the area, particularly southern Angola, the Kunene River flows strongly, sometimes at 300 cubic metres per second, driving the turbines at the power plant, and we can export up to 200MW off-peak,” Graupe said.

Namibia usually imports roughly 60% of its power from neighbouring countries, including South Africa.

During good rainy seasons in the catchment areas of the Kunene River, mainly in Angola, where the river has its source, Namibia can export electricity outside peak times, which is late at night.

Eskom is struggling to cope with South Africa’s electricity demand due to ailing infrastructure and maintenance backlogs.

In a statement last week Eskom CEO Tshediso Matona said the country had just about exhausted the electricity reserve margin and any slight pressure might trigger power cuts.

Referring to load shedding as “painful”, Matona said it was a necessary decision to protect the electricity power system from total blackout.

“A total blackout would have significant consequences on the South African economy,” he said.

–Sapa