De Beers Group has stated that Namdeb, the 50-50 diamond mining joint venture between De Beers Group and the Government of Namibia, and NamPower, Namibia’s national power utility, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate collaboration on the development and integration of renewable electricity projects into Namdeb’s mining operations and the Namibian national grid.

The proposed development site is located in Kerbehuk, approximately 45km north of Oranjemund, where Namdeb is developing a 34MW Wind Power Plant, with Namdeb being the sole off-taker of the electricity generated. Building on the capacity of both parties, an opportunity has been identified to potentially upscale the project and connect it to the NamPower grid.

ALSO READ: Earth Day: Mining with purpose, protecting the planet

Riaan Burger, CEO of Namdeb, said: “This MoU signifies more than a partnership; it is a statement of intent to power progress – responsibly and sustainably. Our focus on climate is backed by tangible actions. We introduced Namibia’s first battery-electric bus in 2023 to start electrifying our vehicle fleet. Ultimately, we intend to electrify as much of our mobile equipment as possible so that our fleet operates on renewable energy. The Kerbehuk Wind Facility is a key milestone in this journey with the potential to enable the use of renewable energy for nearly half of our electricity needs. Moreover, we are proud that this collaboration with NamPower not only supports our operational goals but also strengthens Namibia’s energy independence and climate resilience.”

Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, stated: “Today’s consumers want to know that the diamonds they wear are sustainable. This Memorandum of Understanding with NamPower is a major step towards our ‘Building Forever’ ambition to become carbon neutral. Namibia is already at the forefront of Africa’s energy transition, and I am delighted that the new wind farm would bring clean power not just to our own operations but to communities across the country.”