A Project implemented by the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia

Combating Bush Encroachment for Namibia’s Development (CBEND)

The Desert Research Foundation of Namibia is the implementing agency of the CBEND project with the Namibia Agricultural Union and the Namibia National Farmers’ Union as the implementing partners. The Strategic partners include the Namibian Women’s Action Association, the Electricity Control Board, Nampower, the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement and the Directorate of Forestry within the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.

The project is funded over a two year period (October 2007 until September 2009) by the European Union through the National Authorising Officer of the European Development Fund, the National Planning Commission Secretariat of the Government of the Republic of Namibia through their Rural Poverty Reduction Program.

This proof-of-concept project will procure and install one ~ 0.5 MW bush-to-electricity power generating plant in Northern Namibia. Fuel for the power plant will be derived from harvested invader bush (with emphasis on bush thinning rather than bush clearing) and electricity produced will be supplied to the national grid. The technology considered is wood gasification.

Although the project dedicates significant resources towards infrastructure, considerable activities also focus on enhancing livelihoods for rural communities, improving the efficiency of bush harvesting, developing scope for small and medium enterprises and establishing Namibia’s first commercially operated small Independent Power Producer.

For further information please contact: The Desert Research Foundation, P.O. Box 20232, Windhoek, tel: +264 61 377 500, fax: +264 61 230 172, The Energy Desk at drfn@drfn.org.na