The Ministry of Works and Transport has successfully completed the restoration of hot water to the Windhoek Central Hospital at a cost of about N$6.5 million.
The hot water restoration project ensures the return of reliable hot water supply to one of the country’s healthcare facilities after nearly a decade of system failure.
The hospital, one of the country’s key public medical facilities, had been without consistent hot water for approximately ten years due to the deterioration and poor maintenance of the original electric boiler system. This resulted in significant operational challenges, affecting both patient care and daily hospital functions.
The project, implemented by a Namibian-owned company NEC Energy, commenced on 12 August 2025 and reached practical completion on 13 January 2026. The works focused on the full restoration and replacement of the hospital’s hot water generation infrastructure, ensuring a reliable and robust system aligned with current operational demands.
The restoration involved the installation of new high-capacity electric boiler units across key service floors within the hospital. A total of three 1200-litre electric boilers were installed on each of the primary service floors.
These systems were fully integrated into the hospital’s existing hot water reticulation network, allowing for seamless distribution across the facility.
In addition to the main service floors, targeted interventions were carried out in critical areas of the hospital. At the maternity ward, four existing boiler units were repaired and restored to full operational capacity, ensuring uninterrupted access to hot water in a department where hygiene and patient care are of paramount importance.
Further installations include two electric boiler units serving the kitchen and theatre facilities, supporting essential hospital operations.
The system design adopts a direct heating approach, with each boiler unit featuring a 1200-litre capacity, eliminating the need for separate hot water storage tanks. This configuration enhances system simplicity and reliability while reducing potential points of failure associated with auxiliary storage systems.
The Ministry Works stated that the project was executed following strict site protocols and quality control measures to ensure transparency, accountability, and adherence to engineering standards throughout the implementation phase.
The approach prioritised reliability and long-term functionality, addressing the shortcomings of the previous system.
The restoration project marks a significant improvement in service delivery at Windhoek Central Hospital, where the absence of hot water posed ongoing challenges for both staff and patients. With the newly installed system, the hospital is now equipped to provide consistent and dependable hot water across its core service areas.
Particular emphasis has been placed on the maternity ward, where access to hot water is critical for patient care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal recovery. The restored system ensures that healthcare professionals can operate under improved conditions, ultimately enhancing patient safety and comfort.
The Windhoek Central Hospital hot water restoration project stands as a key infrastructure upgrade, reinforcing the government’s commitment to maintaining essential healthcare services through reliable and well-engineered utility systems.
BOILERS: Two boilers providing hot water to kitchen
HOT WATER: Service floors fitted with three 12kW geysers
REVAMP: The Maternity Ward received a revamp to the existing boiler system including pump replacements and control board repairs
