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Monday, 7 September 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 7 September 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Northern Regional Electricity Distributor

Also known as: Nored · Northern Regional Electricity Distributor company · Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (NORED) Pty Ltd

Northern Regional Electricity Distributor — operates electricity distribution networks across eight Namibian regions, facing challenges including infrastructure maintenance, cable theft, and service reliability.

2023-10-252026-09-07

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. January 2026
  2. The Namibian

    Nored will be subject to a strike by workers on Friday

    Source

    Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) workers will go on strike on Friday, following a year of failed wage negotiations.

    Nored electricity workers to strike on Friday
  3. New Era

    Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) responded positively and is currently electrifying two locations, Okandjabona and Ondumbo

    Source

    Nored responded positively and is currently electrifying two locations, Okandjabona and Ondumbo, with contractors already on-site taking measurements and installing infrastructure.

    Lights finally on at Okaonde–Oshitha Shembungu … ‘no need to dry fish’
  4. October 2024
  5. The Namibian

    Northern Regional Electricity Distributor is being consulted to assess the entire pumping system before new pump installation

    Source

    To prevent further issues, we are actively consulting with the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor to assess the entire pumping system and ensure the necessary adjustments are made before the new pump is installed.

    1 400 Omusati pupils left without water for weeks
  6. October 2023
  7. The Namibian

    The Managing Director of the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) says Namibia needs to explore the possibility of having its own petroleum refinery

    Source

    THE Managing Director of the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) says Namibia needs to explore the possibility of having its own petroleum refinery.

    Shortage of petrol drives talk of oil refinery

Tuesday 25 August

  1. ECB says Namibia's electricity network overall satisfactory

    The Electricity Control Board reports that Namibia's high-voltage backbone operated by NamPower is well maintained and reliable, but distribution networks delivering power to homes and businesses need improvement, according to findings in the 2024/2025 National Electricity Infrastructure Status Report.

    25 August 2026 · Informanté

  2. Regional electricity distributors outperform councils in network management

    The Electricity Control Board's 2024/25 infrastructure report finds that regional electricity distributors run electricity distribution networks better than local and regional councils, with concerns identified particularly in areas where councils manage distribution rather than dedicated companies.

    25 August 2026 · The Namibian

  3. ECB audit rates most regional electricity infrastructure poor

    An Electricity Control Board audit of Namibia's electricity distribution infrastructure found that most regions have poor infrastructure, with //Kharas, Hardap and Omaheke facing high risk of continued non-compliance. Only Khomas and Otjozondjupa regions were classified as satisfactory.

    25 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Saturday 22 August

  1. Solar Revolving Fund electrified 41 households in Oshikoto

    The Solar Revolving Fund under the Ministry of Mines and Energy financed electrification of 41 households in Oshikoto Region during the 2025/26 financial year—32 via solar systems at N$1.5 million and 9 via national grid connections at N$261,000. NamPower also connected grid-based electricity to 12 schools in the region, while connection costs and tariffs remain barriers to rural electrification.

    22 August 2026 · Informanté

Monday 17 August

  1. Maporeza residents request more boreholes for growing population

    Residents of Maporeza informal location in Nkurenkuru, Kavango West, have petitioned the councillor for more boreholes to serve their growing population of about 3,000. A water pump station with three tanks has recently been installed, but residents say additional boreholes are still needed, and the area also requires electricity installation promised by September.

    17 August 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 7 August

  1. Nudo demands probe into electricity sector electrocution deaths

    A National Unity Democratic Organisation MP has called for an independent audit into a series of fatal electrocution incidents in the electricity sector, citing repeated workplace deaths at regional distributors and claiming eight fatalities have occurred in the sector over the past four years.

    7 August 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 27 July

  1. Rising cost of living outpaces salary growth for Namibians

    Namibians report that expenses are rising faster than wages, forcing many to rely on side hustles and cash loans to survive. The squeeze is intensifying as electricity and municipal tariffs increase while workers' salaries remain stagnant.

    27 July 2026 · The Namibian

Saturday 11 July

  1. Katima Mulilo town council donates land for two new schools

    Katima Mulilo Town Council has resolved to donate two plots in Extension 27 and Townlands no 1328, measuring 2.52 hectares and 6 hectares respectively, to the Ministry of Education to address classroom overcrowding in the town, where most schools have more than 1,000 pupils enrolled.

    11 July 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 10 July

  1. Nored loses N$4.5 million yearly to cable theft and vandalism

    The Northern Regional Electricity Distributor incurs N$4.5 million annually to repair sabotaged networks and replace stolen copper cables, with the worst-affected areas in Oshana, Omusati, Kavango East and Kavango West. CEO Sylvester Wayiti said the figure excludes revenue losses from power outages and broader costs including customer dissatisfaction, reputational damage, and business losses.

    10 July 2026 · New Era

Wednesday 17 June

  1. Rundu mayor accuses Nored of street light neglect

    Rundu mayor Andreas Jikerwa has accused the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) of failing to maintain the town's street lights, leaving widespread areas dark.

    17 June 2026 · Namibian Sun

Friday 15 May

  1. Rundu Town Council plans streetlight installation

    The Rundu Town Council met with Nored officials to discuss plans to install streetlights in poorly lit areas across the town to improve safety and visibility.

    15 May 2026 · Namibian Sun

Monday 4 May

  1. Planned power outage on 17 May affects Kavango regions

    NamPower and Nored will conduct planned maintenance on electricity infrastructure in Kavango West and East regions on 17 May, with power switched off from 07h00 to 19h00. The work includes repairing a broken conductor at Mururani road crossing, maintaining the Otjikoto–Rundu line, and replacing wooden crossarms on Mahango and Mpasi feeders; the outage will also affect parts of Angola and Shakawe in Botswana.

    4 May 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 14 April

  1. Cabinet approves livestock hub, gold reservation, electricity study

    Namibian Cabinet approved development of a commercial cattle feedlot and livestock value chain hub at Farm Kehoro under a 25-year lease, reserved the Okoutjete Gold occurrence in Kunene from mining operations, and ordered a technical assessment of Northern Regional Electricity Distributor's infrastructure needs following recent industrial action.

    14 April 2026 · New Era

Monday 16 March

  1. Nored appoints Silvester Wayiti as chief executive

    The Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) has appointed Silvester Wayiti as chief executive. Wayiti previously served as chief executive of HopSol Africa and brings more than 10 years of experience in technical, executive and board-level roles across the electricity supply chain.

    16 March 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 15 March

  1. Omuthiya residents voice service delivery grievances at council meeting

    Residents of Omuthiya raised concerns at a public meeting about the council's failure to fix broken streetlights, clear overgrown areas, clean the town, collect household waste, and address unsanitary conditions at the open market. The mayor said the council is working with the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor to fix the lights and will investigate the market conditions, while noting that waste collection depends on residents placing bins outside their yards on designated days.

    15 March 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 13 March

  1. Ongwediva residents frustrated over unlit streets, poor services

    Residents and businesses in Ongwediva complained at a town council meeting about dark streets creating safety risks, crumbling infrastructure, and slow service delivery, while Nored confirmed streetlight bulb shortages of two weeks but said stocks have been replenished and repairs will soon resume.

    13 March 2026 · New Era

Wednesday 11 March

  1. Ruacana Town Council receives adverse audit over unaccounted N$4.7m salaries

    Auditor General Junias Kandjeke says the council cannot account for N$4.7 million in salary payments because there are no updated staff record cards or salary advice, leading to an adverse audit opinion on the council's financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2021. The audit also flagged multiple other discrepancies including unreconciled cash balances, unconfirmed investments, and insufficient assets backing the Build Together Housing Fund.

    11 March 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 4 March

  1. Nored strike ends with three-year wage agreement signed

    Employees of the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor have returned to work after the company and the Mineworkers Union of Namibia signed a three-year collective agreement that includes a 4% salary increase for 2025/26, restoring electricity services in Northern Namibia.

    4 March 2026 · New Era

  2. NORED and Mineworkers Union reach strike settlement agreement

    The Mineworkers Union of Namibia has confirmed a final agreement with NORED ending the recent strike, which provides for payment of a 14th cheque and salary increases of 4% for 2025/2026 and 4.3% for 2026/2027. Union Secretary General George Ampweya said the outcome reflects workers' resilience while noting the dispute was avoidable and criticised governance inefficiencies, pledging the union's commitment to constructive engagement and service restoration.

    4 March 2026 · Informanté

Tuesday 3 March

  1. Nored strike ends with wage deal for workers

    The Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) and its employees, represented by the Mineworkers' Union of Namibia, have reached an agreement ending a five-day strike. The deal includes a 14th cheque for 2024/25, a 4% salary increment for 2025/26, and a 4.3% increase for 2026/27.

    3 March 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Nored strike leaves schools without power, food spoiling

    A Northern Regional Electricity Distributor strike in Kavango East has cut power to school hostels since Friday, forcing the closure of facilities serving over 2,000 pupils and spoiling food supplies. The strike stems from wage negotiations; employees are demanding a 6% pay increase and a 14th cheque, while Nored has offered 3.5% and agreed to the cheque.

    3 March 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 2 March

  1. NORED strike cuts power to Ogongo water treatment plant

    An ongoing strike by Northern Electricity Distributor employees has caused a power outage at Ogongo Water Treatment Plant since Saturday evening, suspending water operations for residents, UNAM campus, and boarding schools in the area. NamWater says restoration depends on the strike's resolution, and has urged affected residents to make necessary arrangements.

    2 March 2026 · Informanté

Sunday 1 March

  1. Nored workers strike over pay; eight regions face blackout risk

    Northern Regional Electricity Distributor employees across eight Namibian regions have stopped work over salary disputes, demanding a 6% raise and payment of a 14th cheque. The strike threatens widespread power cuts and economic damage to businesses in affected areas including Oshana, Omusati, Oshikoto, and others.

    1 March 2026 · The Namibian

Saturday 28 February

  1. Nored strike halts electricity token sales nationwide

    Nored employees began a nationwide strike on Thursday demanding a 6% salary increase, leaving the company's prepaid vending system offline. Customers are unable to purchase electricity tokens, affecting households, businesses, healthcare facilities, schools, and potentially water supply in some areas.

    28 February 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 27 February

  1. NamWater warns of water disruptions as NORED workers strike

    The Namibian Water Corporation has cautioned that water supplies in northern communal areas may be interrupted due to a strike by Northern Electricity Distributor employees that began on 26 February, as water systems depend on electricity for pumping and treatment. NORED has separately warned of delays in responding to power failures and customer service requests, while a dispute over salary increments and the legality of the strike has escalated between the electricity distributor and the Mine Workers Union.

    27 February 2026 · Informanté

  2. NORED workers strike over wages and management relations

    Workers at the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor, represented by the Mine Workers Union of Namibia, began a strike on 26 February 2026 demanding a 14th cheque payment and 6% wage increase, citing management's reluctance to engage constructively. The union criticized NORED's response of threatening dismissals and legal action, and called for the removal of the board.

    27 February 2026 · Informanté

Thursday 26 February

  1. Kavango West leaders frustrated by Nored power outages

    Kavango West leaders have accused the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) of failing to provide reliable electricity to the region, citing constant power cuts and slow restoration times. The criticism came during a stakeholder engagement hosted by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, where local officials and businesses, including telecommunications operators and a tourism lodge, expressed concern about the outages and their economic impact.

    26 February 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 22 February

  1. NORED investigating N$7 million fraud over seven years

    Namibian Police in Omusati Region are investigating a fraud case in which NORED, the northern power utility, has lost exactly N$7,131,986.12 between 2018 and October 2025, allegedly after a suspect in Ondukuta village bypassed the company's prepaid meter.

    22 February 2026 · Informanté

Saturday 21 February

  1. Minister urges NORED to connect three Kavango West network towers

    The Minister of Information and Communication Technology has called on the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor to speed up connection of three completed network towers in Kavango West's Mpungu and Tondoro constituencies to the power grid, as the region remains one of the least connected in the country. Once connected, the towers will provide free Wi-Fi for seven years to schools and health facilities to enable e-education and e-health services.

    21 February 2026 · Informanté

Thursday 22 January

  1. Nored workers strike over six-year wage freeze

    Employees of the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor have gone six years without a pay increase despite union negotiations, prompting the Mineworkers Union of Namibia to refer the dispute to the labour commissioner. The union has issued formal strike notice, with protected industrial action scheduled to commence on 23 January 2026.

    22 January 2026 · New Era

Northern Regional Electricity Distributor — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute