Namibia Sets Ambitious Target to Expand Bulk Water Infrastructure by 2030

Namibia Sets Ambitious Target to Expand Bulk Water Infrastructure by 2030. Namibia is moving to significantly boost its national water capacity, aiming to expand bulk water infrastructure from 1,608 million cubic meters to 2,100 million cubic meters by 2030. The ambitious plan is part of the sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), which outlines strategic interventions to secure long-term water resilience across the country.

With demand for water expected to rise from 635.6 million cubic meters in 2024 to 771.7 million cubic meters by the end of the decade, the government is investing in the development and diversification of water sources. Planned initiatives include the construction of water purification plants, artificial recharge of inland aquifers, desalination of seawater and brackish water, and the rollout of pipelines for raw water distribution.

“These efforts will culminate in a resilient bulk water infrastructure network that meets current and future water demands and supports sustainable economic growth,” states the NDP6 document.

Namibia’s water potential stands at 343 million cubic meters from groundwater and 4,909 million cubic meters from surface water. The country currently operates 17 large surface dams with a combined storage capacity of over 1.5 billion cubic meters. Among them, Neckartal Dam remains the largest, holding 857.417 million cubic meters.

Previous infrastructure efforts under NDP5 included the rehabilitation of the Calueque-Oshakati Canal and the reopening of the Etaka Canal, improving supply for irrigation schemes, communal farmers, and purification plants in northern Namibia.

The restoration of the Omatako Canal has also helped reduce water losses while improving transfer efficiency from the Karst Aquifer to Windhoek and other central regions.