TIRI MASAWI
Namibia has set an ambitious target to electrify 210 000 households between 2026 and 2030.
This will be done through an accelerated electrification programme implemented through a grid and off-grid expansion.
The plan is part of the country’s Mission 300 plan which was released in December 2025 and includes a raft of measures including the implementation of a national electrification fund, implementing national standards and testing facilities and developing “smart” tax exemptions and incentives.
Mission 300 is a collaborative effort led by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to bring electricity to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
It focuses on expanding access, improving utility efficiency, attracting investment, and promoting regional energy integration through African leadership and partnerships.
The mission also involves governments, the private sector, and partners working on on-grid and off-grid solutions, policy reforms, and financing to power development and economic growth.
According to the plan, the government will electrify 210,000 new household connections by 2030.
These will include 175,000 through the grid and remaining 35,000 via off-grid solutions.
This represents a fourfold increase in the current annual connection rate and supporting the national objective of 70 percent electricity access.
The government says it will update, approve and implement the National Electrification Strategy, updated by Distributors Master Plans, by 2026 to ensure comprehensive and efficient electrification across the nation.
“Build and implement the National Electrification Funding Portfolio (NELFP) to optimize and diversify funding sources and establish a financing mechanism to support access initiatives under the NELFP by 2026. This includes mobilizing the
necessary budget and grants to ensure tariff affordability and access targets by 2030,” part of the plan said.
The Namibian government says it will also establish a dedicated unit for energy access programs.
This will create a unit to manage the energy access program, inclusive of clean cooking initiatives, to streamline efforts and enhance program effectiveness.
Part of the plan will see the Government launching a phased approach for off-grid solar and clean cooking solutions.
They will also initiate an off-grid solar and clean cooking pilot program by 2026 with plans for nationwide expansion thereafter.
“ …Develop a roadmap and action plan to guide this phased approach, with a focus on women, ensuring strategic and effective implementation. Strengthening capacity and stakeholder engagement: Enhance the capacity to plan, manage, and implement the access program, ensuring that all stakeholders are equipped to drive successful energy access initiatives,” the plan said.
The government says it will develop “smart” (timebound and pro-poor) tax exemptions and incentives.
This will see an evaluation and establishment of tax exemptions or reductions on import duties and Value Added Tax (VAT) for certified off-grid energy solutions to improve affordability and market growth as needed.
“ Focus will be placed on recruiting and training local residents, including youth, to carry out basic system maintenance, cleaning, and diagnostics, supporting job creation in newly electrified areas,” the plan said.
The government says they also aim to advance gender equality in energy access delivery:.
“Embed gender-responsive design into off-grid programs by ensuring that women are equitably included in training, maintenance roles, and enterprise development. This includes supporting women-led microbusinesses in the energy value chain and prioritising gender inclusion in recruitment, capacity building, and community engagement,” said the plan in part.
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