The Deputy Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Gaudentia Kröhne, has hailed the groundbreaking of the 50MW Astra Farm Solar Project in Omaheke as a defining moment in Namibia’s clean energy transition and industrial growth strategy.
Speaking at the ceremony on Friday, Kröhne described the project as “a symbol of transition, of hope, of collaboration, and of Namibia’s ambition to become a leader in renewable energy on the African continent.”
She commended TerraWatt’s Dutch and Namibian teams for investing in Namibia’s future and “placing confidence in our people, institutions and land.”
The Astra Farm project, developed by TerraWatt in partnership with Rare Earth Minerals as the offtaker, marks one of the largest private-sector renewable investments in the Omaheke region.
The solar park is expected to generate clean and reliable power, create local employment, and stimulate rural economies while reducing carbon emissions in line with Namibia’s climate goals.
Kröhne said the initiative underscores the government’s vision to transform the energy sector into a pillar of sustainable development under the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).
“Energy remains the most critical input for development. “We must continue to harness locally available resources for the benefit of all Namibians,” she said.
Namibia, she noted, boasts the world’s second-best solar resource, vast biomass reserves, and a strong wind regime — advantages that position the country to meet its renewable energy generation targets.
“It is imperative that we continue to plan, structure, manage, and develop an energy sector that can support our aspirations, both today and in the future,” Kröhne said.
She called on the private sector to continue investing in renewable projects, promising that the ministry will “create an enabling environment through sound, transparent and progressive policies.”
Closing her remarks, Kröhne said the ceremony represented “more than the start of a construction project — it is the beginning of a brighter chapter in Namibia’s energy journey.”
She urged all stakeholders to approach the task “with unity, discipline, and care,” declaring the 50MW Astra Farm Solar Project officially underway.
