PPP – A RECIPE FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

Media Release: By Le Roux van Schalkwyk (Venture Media / Namibia Trade Network)

Prioritising Namibia’s limited resources to focus on projects that have large impacts, will lead to the recovery of the economy and eventual further development.

This was the message of Finance Minister Ipumbu Shiimi speaking at the opening of the 6th annual Public Private Partnerships (PPP) Conference held in Windhoek from 16-17 June under the theme “PPP – A recipe for economic recovery and infrastructure development”.

“I believe this theme underscores the new strategy that the government wants to pursue. It is working together with the private sector, where the private sector is at the centre of this strategy together with the government. We can only transform this economy and we can only develop this economy if we work together in a true partnership,” Minister Shiimi said.

Five priority projects, which have been identified through the PPP initiative, were launched at the conference. They were selected from a list of 40 project concepts that were submitted by the various public entities to be considered for PPP implementation. Based on the outcome of a screening process, 13 projects were considered suitable for PPP procurement. The 13 projects were further assessed based on various qualitative and strategic considerations to identify five priority PPP projects for launching as part of the country’s project pipeline.

“The PPP Unit has been engaging with the respective PE’s one on one since the inception of the screening exercise. Some of their projects are already registered with the PPP Unit, some have been advised to follow suit as PPPs and provide relevant support to take the projects through the next stages of preparation and procurement”.

The relevant PEs on the prioritised list of candidate projects in the PPP pipeline are:

1. Wastewater Direct Reclamation Plant, City of Windhoek
2. Desalination Water Supply Project, Nam Water
3. Concentrated Solar Power with PV, Nam Power
4. Development of Student Village, Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation
5. Otjiwarongo Wastewater Treatment Works Project, Otjiwarongo Municipality
6. Katima Liselo Green Scheme
7. City of Windhoek, 25MW solar power plant of which the procurement stage (Transactional Approval 2A) approved by PPP Committee was launched at the conference​

“This new partnership (with the private sector) is not only going to be used in the area of infrastructure development but also in the general investment framework as we proceed to diversify the economy. The diversification strategy is going to be based on the government creating a conducive environment for the private sector to take the lead,” Minister Shiimi said.

The conference programme included presentations and panel discussions on the above-mentioned prioritised projects as well as a presentation on green hydrogen and a panel discussion exploring the details of PPP opportunities in this new future energy sector. The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund of India gave a presentation on the PPP Project Preparation Facility followed by a panel discussion detailing the project.

The 6th annual Public Private Partnerships Conference was a virtual event in accordance with the current Covid-19 regulations for the safety of participants. The event serves as a forum for the public and private sectors to exchange information on best practices and provides a platform for investors, developers, financiers, executives from the private sector and senior government officials to network. This year’s event was sponsored by Standard Bank, Lithon Project Consultants, Mondjila Project Advisory & Management, the Development Bank of Namibia, RMB, the Capricorn Group, GIZ, Nafasi Water, Bank Windhoek, EoS Capital, AFD, NEDBANK, Tribefire Studios, the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board. One Africa Television and the Namibia Trade Network were the media partners.