WIREMEN’S/WIRING LICENCE:

REVIEW OF ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY

NEW LEGAL AND
REGULATIONS FRAMEWORK
GUIDELINES IN
IN PROCESS
PROGRESS

BACKGROUND
The electricity industry is currently working on establishing a national institutional legal and regulatory framework for electrical
workers and electrical
The Namibia Electricitycontractors in Namibia.
Supply Industry It has
(ESI), through become imperative
the established to and
Regulations create standards
Guidelines will beacross thetoindustry.
submitted the Minister of Labour,
Stakeholder Working Committee (SWC), commissioned a project to Industrial Relations and Employment Creation (MLIREC) for approval
Background
establish the legal and regulatory framework for streamlining and and recommendation
Welfare, forand
the National Training promulgation in consultation
Accreditation Institutions with
and other the Labour
national stakeholders,
Prior to gaining independence in 1990, a regulatory framework based on the South African commissioned a project to streamline and harmonise the operational environment for Electrical
harmonizing the operational environment for Electrical Workers and Advisory Council (LAC) as per the enabling act, Act No. 11 of 2007. The
Bureau of Standards (SABs) was legally binding in Namibia. Immediately after independence, Workers and Electrical Contractors in Namibia.
each Electrical Contractors
and every institution set orin Namibia.
adopted their own standards, which resulted in different levels draft working documents are accessible on the ECB website through the
of standards in the Namibian electricity supply industry with no mutual or reciprocal recognition link:main
The https://www.ecb.org.na/index.php/electricity/technical-regulation
aim of the Working Committee is to transform the current Wiring Licence into a
As part licences
of operational of the assignment, the SWC
issued by the different developed
authorities within some key roadmap draft
Namibia. National Wiring Licence aligned with Vision 2030, and to ensure that all current installation
documents comprising relevant Electrical Installation and Electrical contractors,
The approval technicians or engineersand
of regulations obtain their wiring will
guidelines licences, whichan
signify areimportant
recognised on a
To date, the industry finds itself in a situation where for example, an electrical worker national level, registered and regulated by a National Electrical Contractors Regulatory Body or
Machinery Regulations and Guidelines. These documents were reviewed step towards establishing a national institutional legal and regulatory
authorised by the City of Windhoek to perform electrical installations for a given category, is Institution and internationally accepted.
by an external
not necessarily consultant
authorised and are
to do the same worknow readyRED,
for Erongo for sharing
NamPower,with broaderor
CENORED framework for electrical workers and electrical contractors in Namibia
stakeholder groups for the final round of views, suggestions, and
NORED. The absence of a nationally accepted reference standard was not only perceivedinputs,to and by
Apart soplaying
from doing,specific
streamline
roles and harmonize
allocated by virtuethe operational
of the environment
legal mandate, NSWC member
be unsustainable, but a gross violation of the
following up on the previous engagements. Safety Code gazetted in 2011. institutions
for Electrical Workers and Electrical Contractors in the country.dedicated staff and
continue to support the project through collectively committing
financial contributions totalling N$2 million, the total budget required to complete the project by
The legitimacy of the existing problem and the need to urgently address it was further supported the end of 2016 as per adopted operational plan.
OBJECTIVES
by documented evidence of recommendations previously made independently by various key
This will ensure that all current installation contractors, technicians
stakeholders. Itorisengineers
recognised meeting thethestipulated
that, despite requirements,
need to implement can obtain
transformation, Wiring
continuity must be
The SWC scheduled these consultative stakeholder meetings to engage Licenses, which are nationally accepted and recognized, registered
maintained as the industry cannot stop receiving or rendering essential services. Onand
that note,
allcomprise:
These key and relevant stakeholders for review and validation of Electrical aregulated
two-prongedbyapproach
a National adopted. This
wasRegulatory approach
Body comprises:
or Institution and internationally
• The 2008 ECB Regulations,
Installation report on the accreditation, electrification and
Electrical Installation qualification requirements for
Guidelines, • Maintaining the status quo (business as usual scenario), while facilitating relevant training
Electrical workers in Namibia, and
accepted.
and assessment schemes to allow affected parties a gradual transition
• Reports on stakeholder engagements involving key players in the Electricity Supply (1-2 years renewable).
Electrical
Industry (ESI)Machinery Regulations
such as NamPower, REDsand Electrical
and City Machinery Guidelines. On
of Windhoek. • Establishing the regulatory framework for transformation by developing and implementing
successful conclusion of the stakeholder review and validation, the requisite technical and legal instruments through a consultative process.
Project commissioning
After recognising the need to address the negative impacts of the existing fragmentation and lack The key milestones attributed to the project to date are the developed draft Electrical Workers’
of a structured regulatory and legal framework for Electrical Workers and Electrical Contractors Bill, the draft Electrical Installation Regulations and the draft Operational Guidelines.
INVITATION
in the country, the Electricity Supply Industry (ESI), jointly with the Ministry of Labour and Social

Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) stakeholders and members of the public are cordially
invited to attend scheduled stakeholder consultative meetings for reviewing
and validation of Electrical Installation and Electrical Machinery Regulations and
INVITATION
Guidelines as stipulated below.
TO ATTEND THE FINAL STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP ON
THE REVIEW OF KEY ROADMAP DOCUMENTS FOR THE
Stakeholder LICENSING
WIREMEN’S ConsultativePROJECT
Meeting Dates and Venues
DATE REGION TOWN VENUE TIME
02/11/2020
The Kavango
Namibia Electricity SupplyEast
Industry Rundu Tambuti Lodge
(ESI), through the established
Stakeholder 08h00-13h00
04/11/2020 Oshana Ongwediva Bennies Park
Working Committee (SWC), commissioned a project to establish the legal and 08h00-13h00
06/11/2020 Otjozondjupa Otjiwarongo C’est Si Bon Hotel
regulatory framework for streamlining and harmonising the operational environment
08h00-13h00
16/11/2020 Karas Keetmanshoop Schutzenhaus Hotel 08h00-13h00
for Electrical Workers and Electrical Contractors in Namibia.
18/11/2020 Khomas Windhoek Heja Lodge 08h00-13h00
20/11/2020 Erongo Swakopmund Seaside Hotel 08h00-13h00
As part of the assignment, the SWC developed some key roadmap documents
comprising of relevant Bills, Installation Regulations and Guidelines. These
Meetingwere
documents Attendance
reviewed by an external consultant and are now ready for sharing
with stakeholders for the final round of their views, suggestions, and inputs to
Stakeholders willing
recommendations to forward
on the way attendfollowing
shouldupconfirm by contacting
on the previous workshop. any of the contact persons
listed below.
The Workshop
Contact is scheduled asContact
Person follows: Number Email
DATE:
Ms. Gita 7-8
JohrJuly
2016 0816119164 Gita.Johr@nampower.com.na
VENUE: Seaside
Ms Ndapanda Hotel & Spa,
Amuthenu Swakopmund
0811700944 Ndapanda.Amuthenu@nampower.com.na

Participants are expected to make their own arrangements and also bear the full cost
for transportation, accommodation, meals and other relevant services.

If you are interested to attend, please contact Ms. Gita Johr (E-mail: gita.
johr@nampower.com.na or contact: 061-205 2594) or Mr. Kavepurua Kavetuna
(E-mail: kkavetuna@ecb.org.na or contact: 061-424304) not later than 03 July
2016.

ELECTRICITY CONTROL BOARD