Page 5 - UNAM Forum Ed1-2021

Eighteen months ago, the University of Namibia “Production of potable water from salt-water
installed a solar power operated seawater- is feasible, and growing of plants in the desert,
desalination pilot plant, to demonstrate that especially olive trees that bear fruits and sequester
seawater desalination is realistic with that carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, is also
technology. Now, the University went a step further achievable.”
to install a water bottling facility to illustrate the wide
range of possibilities that Namibia has if it could utilise The Assistant Pro-Vice Chancellor at the Sam
its vast water resources along its 1,500 km coastline. Nujoma Campus, Dr Hilka Ndjaula, expect the olive
trees to bear their first fruits within a period of about
Both pilot facilities are based at the Sam Nujoma two years.
Campus in Henties Bay. H.E. Dr Sam Nujoma,
Founding President of the Republic of Namibia, “We plan to use the olives to produce oil as well as
inaugurated the water bottling facility on 16 table olives,” she said. “We look forward to a date
October 2020. not very far from now when we shall see olive oil with
a UNAM brand in our shops.”
At the same occasion, Dr Nangolo Mbumba, Vice
President of the Republic of Namibia and University The Assistant Pro-Vice Chancellor at the Sam
of Namibia (UNAM) Chancellor, inaugurated a Nujoma Campus, Dr Hilka Ndjaula, explaining the
400 olive trees plantation, which is irrigated with olive tree planting process to the visitors.
desalinated seawater. In attendance were Professor
Kenneth Matengu (UNAM Vice Chancellor), Both the olive tree plantation and the water-
University management, campus staff and students bottling unit are initiatives of the UNAM’s Faculty
as well as regional and town councilors.
of Engineering and Information Technology, and
the Sam Nujoma Campus, through a project that
The Founding President expressed joy in the is funded by the UK-based Royal Academy of
realisation of a vision that began in 1999. “Our vision
was driven by the notion that the coastal area, Engineering.
although seemingly empty for some, contains huge
potential,” he said. “Today more than 20 years Professor Frank Kavishe, who heads this initiative
later, I must proudly admit that our investment in this and the engineering campus, said that: “The Royal
Centre has yielded results.” Academy of Engineering supports translational
research and engineering projects that have
The Founding President, HE Dr Sam Nujoma, trying an impact on society as well as those that build
out the desalinated water bottling technique. university-industry partnerships in Sub-Saharan
Dr Nujoma challenged the Namibian nation on his Africa.”
firm believe that we can make our desert green,
and he is certain that it can be achieved if we apply The water bottling project has so far costed N$875
our minds. “It was achieved in other countries, why 000. The financial contribution of the Royal Academy
not here?” of Engineering to this project amounts to N$ 525 000,
with the balance of N$350 000 financed by UNAM.
Namibia is endowed with natural resources, and
one of them is the seawater and sunlight. “These The 3 000 litres per hour seawater-desalination pilot
resources are in abundance, and smart technologies plant, which was commissioned in April 2019, is a joint
in desalination of seawater using solar energy have initiative between the University of Namibia and the
been successfully piloted on this campus,” said University of Turku in Finland, and was installed by
Professor Matengu. Solar Water Solutions (Finland).
The water bottling project has so far costed N$875 000. The
financial contribution of the Royal Academy of Engineering to

this project amounts to N$ 525 000,

with the balance of N$350 000 financed by UNAM.

5 Official Newsletter