The Erongo Desalination Plant in Namibia produced 17.59 million cubic metres of potable water in 2025, its highest annual output to date and a 14% increase compared with 2024, operator Orano Mining Namibia has confirmed.
The company said the year‑on‑year growth demonstrates the plant’s ability to meet rising demand in the Erongo Region and confirms its capacity to reliably deliver water at its current operational level of 22.5 million cubic metres per year.
Other key operational milestones achieved by Orano during the year include:
- 15 consecutive years without a lost time injury, reached in June 2025.
- A new daily production record of 63,381 cubic metres, set on 17 June 2025.
The Erongo plant supplies potable water to municipalities, mining operations and industries through NamWater, and is positioned to increase supply in response to demand driven by mining developments and town expansions in the region.
While current operational capacity stands at 22.5 million cubic metres annually, the facility’s full design capacity is 45 million cubic metres, with planning already under way for future expansion.
Renewable energy integration
In 2025, the Trekkopje solar power plant began supplying electricity to the desalination facility, reducing its carbon footprint and cutting costs. Orano said the integration delivered 7 million kilowatt‑hours of solar energy, saving about N$4m and lowering water tariffs by 2% over the past year.
The Sorexa Solar Project, developed by Innosun Energy Holdings under a 10‑year power purchase agreement, will eventually supply up to 30% of the plant’s electricity needs, with the remainder provided by NamPower.
The desalination facility also operates an energy recovery system that captures pressure energy from the brine stream during reverse osmosis, feeding it back into operations to reduce overall consumption.
Orano has described the Erongo Plant as a key enabler of regional and national development, noting its long‑standing record of supplying potable water that meets national standards and is independently tested in line with NamWater requirements.
Located about 35km north of Swakopmund near Wlotzkasbaken, the plant is the largest reverse osmosis seawater desalination facility in Southern Africa. It provides a significant share of potable water to Swakopmund, nearby uranium mines, and other industries.
Orano said it remains committed to continuous improvement and innovation, with plans to develop a pilot plant early in 2026 to test the use of a Dissolved Air Flotation system for managing sulphur‑related challenges.
NamPower last November opened bids for six grid-connected solar power plants totalling 120MW, as part of efforts to expand its renewable energy capacity and reduce reliance on imports from South Africa and Zambia. The projects will be developed under an IPP model, with submissions expected to be closed on 30 January 2026.