Project Launch: Promoting Renewable Energies In Namibia (PREN) Project

The Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) Namibia in collaboration with the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN), main partners and broader stakeholders officially launched the Promoting Renewable Energies in Namibia project, on the 28th of September 2017 at NICE Restaurant in Windhoek.

The event was aimed at introducing the PREN Project and outlining its objectives to various stakeholders. Moderated by Abraham Hangula from the Namibia Energy Institute (NEI), the event comprised of various remarks and presentations from various speakers as well as Q&A and networking sessions.

Officiating at the event on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Mr John Titus, Director of Energy, thanked the men and women who created the PREN Project. He also stressed the significance of the project as it served as a crucial element for the current and future development of renewable energy and energy efficiency in Namibia.

Moreover, Mr Titus commended the project for its choice of audience which are schools and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). He said, “The future of this country is dependant upon what happens in our classrooms and our school grounds. I sincerely hope your environmental awareness campaigns and promotions among schools make a long-lasting impression on learners about renewable energy and energy efficiency for a conscious low-carbon Namibia tomorrow”.

He concluded his remarks by assuring the PREN Project and its partners of the Ministry’s support as a strategic partner of the project. “Only through partnerships such as this can Namibia realize objectives as set out in our national energy documents. It is time to make renewable energy everybody’s business and a project as this one can do just that”, he remarked.

As the event proceeded, information related to the PREN Project and renewable energies in Namibia was given through two presentations. Mr Rodney Seibeb, Project Coordinator of the PREN Project, gave a detailed presentation on the background and objectives of the project, the main partners involved as well as the expected results and planned activities. Furthermore, Ms Sophia Nuuyuni from EduVentures, gave an insightful presentation on the work of EduVentures in the area of environmental education and renewable energies in Namibia. The presentations were followed by three rounds of questoins and answers wihch gave the audience an opportunity to pose questions and engage with the presenters. The event concluded on a positive note with closing remarks by Dr Martin Schneider, Executive Director of DFRN.

The PREN Project is active from 2017-2019 and will focus on promoting and raising awareness on renewable energies and resource efficiency in Namibia within the context of climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Project has a particular focus on rural schools and SMEs.

BY CATHY AMUTENYA