Despite drought and horrible economic times for Namibia, there is still much to be done to survive until the next rainy season. The one activity thriving on the bad times seems to be the charcoal industry which is growing exponentially due to the massive market uptake of the very popular charcoal derived from Namibian invader…
A case for a biomass-based economy in Namibia
NAMIBIA is currently facing an uphill economic battle, having recently slipped into a recession, coupled with a staggering unemployment rate of over 30%, which is exacerbated further by low international commodity prices, affecting some of our largest national income earners from the mining sector. So, what if we told you that Namibia is sitting on…
Namibian wood charcoal: A triple win for the Namibian environment, the country’s economy and international consumers
Today, more than 30 million hectares of Namibian rangeland are affected by high densities of encroaching woody species. Although this constitutes an immense challenge, bush encroachment provides significant opportunities through bush control and value addition. The production of charcoal is a major contributor to the efforts of bush control for rangeland restoration. Not only is…
What are the economic benefits for Namibia of an Encroacher Bush Biomass Power Plant near Tsumeb?
Over past years, NamPower and other partners have been exploring and realising the renewable energy potential of Namibia. One of these sources of renewable energy is biomass from encroacher bush, the removal of which provides more than only a source of energy but also sustainable employment opportunities, environmental benefits and other advantages. So what specifically…