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Thursday, 22 October 2026
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Namibian press · Place

Neckartal Dam

2022-08-272026-10-22
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News reports

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In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. September 2024

  2. The Namibian

    … He said the party will spend 10% of the country’s gross domestic product on agriculture to increase productivity. “To develop value chains in food processing, we can utilise the resources available at the Neckartal Dam and the Okavango River. …

    Promises made at presidential debate
  3. February 2024

  4. The Namibian

    … Namibia’s public works projects like roads, the Neckartal Dam, fuel storage, government offices and ever-mushrooming parastatals consistently drain taxpayer money, with little to show in terms of job creation and overall improved quality of life. …

    Rent a Namibian Kills Jobs, Throws Money Out the Window
  5. August 2022

  6. The Namibian

    … Is colonialism to blame for the vanity construction projects such as the petroleum storage facility, ministerial head offices and projects like the Neckartal Dam, which together cost close to N$20 billion? …

    The President and the Colonialism Excuse
Agriculture & Land

Neckartal spills while Windhoek dams run low

The News

Neckartal Dam outside Keetmanshoop has overflowed twice in two years while Windhoek's supply dams stood at 57.7%, with the Omatako Dam at 12.7%. Namibia ranks fifth out of 14 southern African markets for natural water resources, but the difficulty is where that water falls and where it flows to, with most rainfall lost to evaporation and water storage concentrated in the south and far north while the economy has grown in the centre and on the coast.

19 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 19 October

  1. Neckartal spills while Windhoek dams run low

    Neckartal Dam outside Keetmanshoop has overflowed twice in two years while Windhoek's supply dams stood at 57.7%, with the Omatako Dam at 12.7%. Namibia ranks fifth out of 14 southern African markets for natural water resources, but the difficulty is where that water falls and where it flows to, with most rainfall lost to evaporation and water storage concentrated in the south and far north while the economy has grown in the centre and on the coast.

    19 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 6 October

  1. Neckartal Dam progress stalls amid southern water security concerns

    Keetmanshoop and ||Kharas leaders say the Neckartal Dam project has not delivered expected agricultural opportunities and economic development, with the municipality citing insufficient water supply from existing sources to meet growing demand and exploring alternative water sources including groundwater studies.

    6 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 1 October

  1. NBL concerned as central area dam levels fall below 45%

    Namibia Breweries Limited has expressed concern over water levels in central region dams falling below 45% amid anticipated drought, though the company says it can pump from boreholes if needed. NBL has reduced water usage by 30% since 2024 and now uses 3.5 litres of water per litre of beer produced, targeting 2.4 litres per litre by 2030.

    1 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Sunday 16 August

  1. Namibia and Cuba to develop water infrastructure cooperation

    Namibia is set to sign a memorandum of understanding with Cuba on water harvesting and distribution, with technical expertise to develop canals, tunnels and other infrastructure to move floodwater from regions prone to flooding to water-scarce areas across nine regions.

    16 August 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Friday 7 August

  1. Water availability identified as key constraint for //Kharas green hydrogen

    A Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment of green energy production in Namibia's Southern Corridor Development Initiative identifies water availability as the primary technical constraint for green hydrogen development in the //Kharas Region, with coastal areas using desalination and sites near the Neckartal Dam identified as most feasible for electrolysis facilities.

    7 August 2026 · Informanté →

Sunday 2 August

  1. Khai-Khaua releases land for agricultural development near Berseba

    The /Khai-/Khaua Traditional Authority has made land near Berseba available for agricultural development to support food security and rural development. Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare said the government is assessing land near Snyfontein and Kameelrivier for agricultural projects, with water from the Neckartal Dam expected to support farming in the Hardap and ||Kharas regions.

    2 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 23 June

  1. Recent rainfall revives southern Namibian rivers and dams

    Recent showers combined with water releases from the Naute and Neckartal dams have caused a rapid rise in the Fish River and other southern waterways, with the Naute Dam's water capacity dropping from 117.3% to 109.4% during a two-day release. Further rainfall is forecast for southern Namibia on Wednesday.

    23 June 2026 · Informanté →

  2. All 96 Fish River Canyon hikers rescued safely

    All 96 hikers stranded in the Fish River Canyon since Sunday have been rescued after overflowing dams caused dangerous water levels downstream. The hikers, part of Namibia Wildlife Resorts' annual winter hike, became trapped after heavy rains filled the Naute Dam beyond capacity, forcing NamWater to open its sluice gates.

    23 June 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. All 96 Fish River Canyon hikers safely evacuated after flooding

    Heavy rainfall and dam releases caused water levels in Fish River Canyon to rise sharply, trapping nine hiking groups. The Namibian Police successfully evacuated all 96 hikers, including children, with no injuries reported.

    23 June 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 22 June

  1. NWR rescuing 96 hikers trapped in Fish River Canyon

    Namibia Wildlife Resorts is rescuing 96 hikers from nine groups stranded in Fish River Canyon since Sunday after heavy rains caused the Naute Dam to exceed capacity, forcing NamWater to open sluice gates that sent dangerous, rapidly rising water downstream. The Fish River hiking trail has been temporarily closed until conditions are declared safe.

    22 June 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Naute and Neckartal dam releases raise Fish River flood risk

    Namibia Water Corporation opened the Naute Dam's floodgates on Sunday as water levels exceeded capacity, with releases from both Naute and Neckartal dams flowing into the rapidly-rising Fish River. NamWater has warned residents, tourists, and farmers to stay out of the Fish River and canyon areas due to high water volumes and strong flows.

    22 June 2026 · Informanté →

  3. 96 hikers trapped in Fish River Canyon during flood

    Ninety-six hikers, including school children, are trapped in Fish River Canyon after heavy rainfall and dam releases caused water levels to rise. Police and Namibia Wildlife Resorts have launched a rescue operation involving ground teams and a helicopter.

    22 June 2026 · Informanté →

  4. Southern Namibia records heavy rainfall, dams overflow

    The south experienced sustained heavy rainfall over the weekend, with several areas in Hardap and //Kharas regions receiving significant amounts, including Bethanie which recorded more than 40 mm. Dam levels rose notably, with Naute Dam reaching over 117% capacity, prompting NamWater to open a sluice gate.

    22 June 2026 · Informanté →

Sunday 21 June

  1. Fish River Canyon hike closed due to heavy rainfall and dam overflow

    Namibia Wildlife Resorts has temporarily closed the Fish River Canyon Hike following heavy rainfall in the Naute Dam catchment area and the opening of sluice gates, which pose a safety risk. The Naute Dam reached 117.3% capacity and released water at about 780 m³/s into the Fish River, while the Neckartal Dam also overflowed at 105.7% capacity with a spilling rate of 870 m³/s.

    21 June 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 12 June

  1. Neckartal Dam irrigation phase advances to environmental assessment

    The Ministry of Agriculture has announced that an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment will be undertaken to advance the Neckartal Dam project into Phase Two, which aims to develop the irrigation component. The project covers approximately 19,000 hectares of government farms in the //Kharas Region.

    12 June 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 5 June

  1. Koryx signs grid deal for Haib Copper Project development

    Koryx Copper has signed a memorandum of understanding with NamPower for bulk electricity supply to its Haib Copper Project in southern Namibia and is advancing water supply plans from the Orange River. The project will use a hybrid power system combining national grid electricity, solar generation, and potential battery storage, designed to meet an estimated peak demand of 152 MVA and annual consumption of about 1,131 GWh, with a pre-feasibility study expected later this year.

    5 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 11 May

  1. Namibia's crisis: ambitious plans without execution

    An opinion piece argues that Namibia's core problem is not a lack of plans but failure to implement them, citing the Neckartal Dam as an example of infrastructure built without realizing its full economic promise. The piece contends the nation has numerous strategies for agriculture, housing, industrialisation, and other sectors but chronically struggles to turn these plans into functioning economic systems.

    11 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 8 May

  1. Government accelerates Neckartal Dam irrigation phase launch

    Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare said the Namibian Government is accelerating efforts to move the Neckartal Dam project into Phase Two, which aims to unlock the irrigation component. The dam is currently at full capacity (857.781 million cubic metres), but the irrigation phase has yet to commence.

    8 May 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 7 May

  1. Government directs second phase of Neckartal irrigation scheme

    A government directive has been issued to commence the second irrigation phase of the Neckartal Dam through a public-private partnership.

    7 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Tuesday 14 April

  1. Southern Namibia dams rise to 90% capacity after rainfall

    Recent rainfall in catchment areas has boosted southern Namibian dams to a combined 90.8% storage capacity, up from 88.7% the previous week, with Hardap Dam receiving the largest inflow of 13.7 million cubic metres. However, dams supplying Windhoek remain significantly depleted at 58.2% capacity, down sharply from 88.4% a year ago.

    14 April 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. MPs warn persistent agriculture ministry underfunding threatens food security

    Members of parliament have expressed concern over the continued underfunding of the agriculture ministry, with lawmakers warning that declining allocations for land distribution, drought support, and veterinary services risk compromising national food security and employment. The ministry received N$1.8 billion for the current financial year, with over N$1.4 billion allocated to operations and over N$300 million to development.

    14 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 11 April

  1. NamWater seeks environmental approval for Haib mining dam

    NamWater is pursuing environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to build water infrastructure, including a large-scale off-channel storage dam, to supply Koryx Copper's proposed Haib copper mining project in the ||Kharas region with around 20 million cubic metres of water annually from the Orange River. The project is expected to create up to 3,500 jobs during construction and around 1,350 during operations.

    11 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 10 April

  1. ||Kharas rivers flow after rains amid water scarcity

    Major intermittent rivers in the ||Kharas region have been flowing following recent heavy rains, though several roads are temporarily impassable. Despite the rainfall, water resources in southern Namibia remain under pressure due to high evaporation rates and limited groundwater recharge, with six southern dams currently storing 3% less water than a year ago.

    10 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 22 March

  1. Vice president praises ||Kharas region economic growth progress

    Vice president Lucia Witbooi praised ||Kharas region for transforming into an economic hub with significant progress in agriculture, agri-processing, mining, fisheries and tourism. She acknowledged ongoing challenges in industrial activity, water, sanitation and housing while noting government efforts through development projects at Noordoewer and Auas.

    22 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 26 February

  1. Namibia's major dams record dramatic water level gains

    Namibia's key dams have surged dramatically over the past year, with the Tilda Viljoen Dam rising from empty to over 50% capacity and other major dams more than doubling their storage levels, according to the Hydrological Services of Namibia.

    26 February 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 14 January

  1. Young engineers network launches flagship mentorship and industry exposure programme

    The Young Consulting Engineers of Namibia (YCEN) acts as a bridge between academia and the consulting engineering industry, offering students and young professionals webinars, technical site visits, networking sessions, and a Job Shadow Day initiative that placed 26 participants at member firms in March 2025. The organisation is also active in community outreach, supporting charities like Needy Hearts Soup Kitchen and Desert Kidz Care Foundation.

    14 January 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 6 January

  1. Rainfall lifts river flows and national dam levels above 80%

    Namibia recorded widespread rainfall over recent days, with moderate falls across north-central and north-eastern regions and lighter showers in the south, boosting river flows and maintaining national dam storage at 80.1% as of 5 January. However, authorities note a storage deficit of 28.7% compared to the same period last year, with dam levels ranging from highs of 97.7% at Neckartal Dam to lows below 5% at Bondels and Tjivero Silt dams.

    6 January 2026 · Informanté →

Neckartal Dam — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute