One of the SOLTRAIN programme's key focus areas is the strengthening institutional structures which can offer expert advice, training and technical support to the local industry and government officials. To this end, Osona Village Management accepted a proposal from SOLTRAIN, through the Namibian University of Science and Technology - Namibia Energy Institute to train their housing contractors on quality assurance in the selection and installation of solar water heaters.
The main objective of the training was to train the housing developers and contractors on how to design, install and to maintain the thermosiphon solar water heating systems. Beyond the practical component, training highlights included quality control and an exploration of the future role and potential of solar water heating systems in a sustainable energy supply for Namibia.
The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Honourable Kornelia Shilunga, officially opened the training course. According to Shilunga, “in order to achieve the goals set out in the Namibian Solar Thermal Roadmap, more collaboration with Housing programmes is required for broad roll-out on small-scale solar water heating systems. It is also essential to have enough skilled experts to be able to design, install and to maintain these solar thermal systems”.
