Expected growth from Neckartal in doldrums
Local leaders in Namibia's ||Kharas region are expressing frustration over the delayed development of the Neckartal Dam project. The municipality of Keetmanshoop is currently struggling to meet water demands for its growing population and is seeking alternative groundwater sources.
Why it matters
The project was intended to be a cornerstone for regional economic development and agricultural growth, and its stagnation highlights critical infrastructure and administrative challenges in southern Namibia.
Keetmanshoop and ||Kharas leaders have questioned the progress of the Neckartal Dam, saying the project was expected to unlock agricultural opportunities, strengthen water security and stimulate economic development in the south.
Keetmanshoop mayor Emrico Blaauw says the municipality is looking forward to water from the Neckartal Dam becoming available to strengthen water security at the town and the wider ||Kharas region.
Keetmanshoop currently receives its water supply from NamWater, while the municipality also maintains backup reservoirs to cushion the town during supply interruptions.
However, Blaauw says the existing reservoirs are not sufficient to meet the full demand of a growing town.
He says the municipality is also exploring other water sources, as population growth and future economic development places increasing pressure on existing infrastructure.
In 2025, the municipality and the University of Namibia’s Southern Campus signed an agreement to investigate underground water resources in and around Keetmanshoop.
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