250312005517 - THE RENEWAL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF VAN ECK POWER STATION IN WINDHOEK, KHOMAS REGION.

The Van Eck Power Station is located at the corner of Allen Street and Hosea Kutako Drive in the Northern Industrial Area, within the institutional boundaries of City of Windhoek Municipality. It is a Coal-Fired Power Station with a total of 4 generating units, each rated at 30 MW. The first two units (Unit 1 and Unit 2) were commissioned in 1972, while Unit 3 was commissioned in 1973 and Unit 4 in 1979. The station is recognizable by its two 103 meters high smokestacks or chimneys. The station was built in the early seventies and the first power was distributed from this Power Station and all distribution lines were connected to the 66 and 220 kV High Voltage Yards. The power station has a footprint of about 21.4 hectares. Under the Environmental Management Act (Act 7 of 2007) and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (2012), the activity described as “Energy generation transmission and storage activities…” requires an Environmental Clearance Certificate. Van Eck Power station was issued with an Environmental Clearance Certificate in 2022 which is due to expire now in 2025. Within the three years of issue, Van Eck Power Station has operated efficiently and without any reported incidents and has demonstrated its ability to manage its activities in a manner that minimizes environmental impacts. The action plans are compiled and actioned for non-conformances identified during the audits and inspections. NamPower therefore intends to apply for the renewal of the operational Environmental Clearance Certificate to comply with the Environmental Management Act (Act 7 of 2007) and its regulations.