President Nangolo Mbumba inaugurated Nampower's 54-megawatt Anixas 2 Power Station at Walvis Bay with a call for affordable basic commodities.
Mbumba said supply models for basic commodities should incorporate innovative solutions that make such goods affordable for communities.
The power station is aimed at providing firm, dispatchable, and reliable generation capacity to the Namibian grid.
It is there to improve Namibia's security of supply and self-sufficiency.
The N$1.25 billion project means Namibia can integrate more renewable energy projects in the future.
When officially inaugurating the plant, President Nangolo Mbumba indicated that Namibia currently imports between 40% and 70% of its electricity from neighbouring countries.
Expanding renewable resources is crucial to positioning Namibia as an electricity exporter to Southern Africa, he said.
He, however, cautioned that self-sufficiency should not come at the cost of affordability and further that electricity should serve as an enabler of socio-economic growth.
The president stressed that numerous communities have been increasing their calls for affordable commodities, like electricity and water.
"A well-balanced electricity sector must prioritise affordability alongside self-reliance. We must explore all avenues, from cost-effective renewable energy deployment to strategic imports, to ensure that the Namibian people and industries have access to reliable and affordable electricity. I, therefore, urge the Ministry of Mines and Energy, along with Nampower, to align all efforts to ensure that our electricity supply remains sustainable, secure, and affordable."
President Mbumba urged the players to ensure that Namibia reaches 900 megawatts of installed capacity by 2030, highlighting a key national priority.
Listing the various projects Nampower is developing, the Managing Director, Kahenge Haulofu, said Anixas 2 is a thermal station, and integration into the existing station was a large and complex endeavour.
"Despite the challenges, today's inauguration of the Anixas 2 power station is a true demonstration of Nampower's unwavering commitment to powering the Namibian economy. Our commitment speaks to our mission to provide innovative electricity solutions in an evolving market through both our resources and strategic partnerships, resulting in reliable and affordable solutions for the benefit of our customers."
According to Nampower, close to 400 temporary jobs were created during construction, while N$183 million was spent on majority-owned Namibian companies.