Standard Bank drives decentralised energy
Standard Bank Namibia this week convened key business clients, EPCs, renewable energy partners, municipal representatives, and industry stakeholders for its Breakfast Connect Session. The engagement introduced clients to Standard Bank’s Vehicle and Asset Finance (VAF) Solar Financing offering, which is carefully designed to support businesses seeking clean, reliable, and cost‑stable energy solutions.
Hellen Amupolo, Standard Bank head of business and commercial banking, reaffirmed that renewable energy has shifted from a long‑term aspiration to an immediate economic priority for Namibian enterprises.
“This breakfast is more than just a gathering; it is a platform for collaboration, dialogue, and action. Financing is the bridge between vision and reality, enabling projects that power businesses, strengthen infrastructure, and support national sustainability efforts”.
Delivering the keynote address, Standard Bank Group market development lead and asset finance specialist for renewable energy and healthcare, Oliver Jugadasen, noted that Namibia’s energy environment is undergoing a structural shift as businesses seek alternatives amidst rising electricity tariffs and reliability concerns.
“The energy market is shifting toward decentralised generation, driven by rising utility costs, reliability concerns, and the global move toward cleaner electricity. For Namibia, this is not only an environmental conversation but an economic one,” he said.
“For customers, the objective is not simply installing solar equipment. It starts with understanding energy demand. Oversizing installations increases capital costs unnecessarily, while right‑sizing ensures optimal savings and predictable cash flow,” he added.
Jugadasen outlined the financing pathways available to clients, including on‑balance‑sheet asset finance for customer‑owned systems with terms of up to ten years, and project financing for power purchase agreements where the Bank funds the generation assets backed by contracted offtake agreements.
“The bank finances the project following due diligence on contract stability, financial forecasts, and operational risk. This model enables large‑scale generation without requiring the end user to carry capital expenditure on their balance sheet,” he said.
Standard Bank reaffirmed that its renewable energy financing strategy aligns with broader continental efforts to mobilise capital into sustainable infrastructure. Jugadasen emphasised that as Namibia diversifies its energy mix, Standard Bank remains committed to bankable projects, disciplined risk assessment, and partnerships that deliver measurable economic value for the private sector and the wider economy.
