Windhoek Van Eck Power Station
 History and architecture of Namibia

Windhoek, Namibia

Namibia generates approximately 380MW of power while demand is more than 450MW. Some shortfall is made up by electricity imports from neighbouring countries but demand is growing everywhere and imports are not reliable.

Van Eck Power Station was built and opened in 1972 and it is a coal-fired with production capacity of 120MW. Van Eck is located in Windhoek Northern Industrial area and its two 105 meters high chimneys can be seen from a distance approaching Namibia's capital. The first two units of power plant were commissioned in 1972, the third in 1973 and the fourth in 1979. It was the first power station in Southern Africa to implement dry cooling method, when fans force air through radiators to cool down hot steam.

Van Eck Power Station was named after Dr. Van Eck, an author of the idea of Ruacana Scheme.

NamPower (previously SWAWEK - South West Africa Water and Electrical Corporation) started at Van Eck Power Plant. The first power was distributed from Van Eck with distribution lines connected to the 66 and 220 KV high voltage yards. The plant consumes around 580 kg of coal per MWH of electricity generated. Van Eck Power Station was rehabilitated and fully refurbished in 2016. The total cost of rehabilitation works were in excess of N$300 million. Some has an opinion that one of power station chimney is leaning, a leaning tower of Windhoek. It is decked with metal bars to counter the skewness caused by construction miscalculation.

Aerial photo gallery of Van Eck Power Station in Windhoek, photos by Dronesberg:

Van Eck Power Station and its 105 m chimneys in Windhoek, Namibia Van Eck Power Station and its 105 m chimneys in Windhoek, Namibia Van Eck Power Station and its 105 m chimneys in Windhoek, Namibia

Van Eck specifications

Namibia Power Corp Ltd
NamPower
Location: Northern Industrial area, Windhoek, Khomas Region, Namibia
GPS coordinates: -22.5116258, 17.0786923
Status: operational
Capacity: 120 MW (4 units x 30 MW)

Video Windhoek & central region

Windhoek Van Eck Power Station is worth your visit if you are in Windhoek before or after a self-drive tour around Namibia.

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DRONESBERG AERIAL PHOTO/VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/dronesberg
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