The Namibian government said that it can not afford any further delays in the Epupa hydropower scheme on the Kunene river border with Angola, 'The Namibian' reported on Tuesday.
"All these projects put pressure on us. And we are importing up to 70 percent of our power from South Africa at the moment, while our power demands continue to rise. By 2006 we will need additional power," Paulinus Shilamba, Director of Energy in the Ministry of Mones was quoted as saying. He added that he had written to the Angolan government "reminding" them that the two sides needed to decide where the dam would be built. The Namibian government was hoping that a decision would be taken before the end of the year.
Media reports said the Angolan government favours the Baynes site in Angola, because it would allow them to renovate and regulate the Gove dam which was damaged in the civil war and has not been repaired since 1975. The Namibian government favours the Epupa Falls and sees the Baynes site as being too small.
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