On 8th June 2017 the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, H.E. Christian-Matthias Schlaga, and Mr. Simson Uri-Khob Chief Operations Officer of the ‘Save the Rhino Trust‘ Namibia, unveiled the 56.4 kWh ground mounted off-grid photovoltaic solar system at the Palmwag Base Station of ‘Save the Rhino Trust’ Namibia. Representatives of the German Embassy, as well as Trustees of ‘Save the Rhino Trust’ and other donors, attended the event.

The Federal Foreign Office supports the project through the German Embassy within the framework of its micro project fund with a financial assistance worth N$ 433 000.00 (Euro 25.000,00), enabling the supply of a 56.4 kWh ground mounted off-grid photovoltaic solar system at the Palmwag Base Station of ‘Save the Rhino Trust’ Namibia.

The German Embassy is proud to have been able to make an important contribution towards the successful work of ‘Save the Rhino Trust’, enabling the survival of the Black Rhino (Hooked-lipped Rhinoceros).

Since its founding years ‚Save the Rhino Trust’ Namibia had played a major role in the safekeeping of rhinos which have been under increased threat in Southern Africa, and lately also in Namibia, due to the illegal smuggling of their horns. The organization performs regular antipoaching patrols in rugged terrain of more than a million hectares wide, with few fences, no national park status and no controls over who goes in or out.

For optimal logistics, the MaiGoHa Field Base Station had been erected some years back at Palmwag and has become the hub of a regional collaborative rhino protection effort. The Field Base Station is not connected to the national electricity grid but has managed until recently with a small Solar Power System. Rapid expansion of the organization requires an upgrade of the existing facilities as the base now provides board and accommodation for 50 to 70 staff members and field workers and also requires sufficient electricity for the electronic monitoring and data processing equipment. 

'Save the Rhino Trust' Namibia (SRT) was established in 1982 and is a non-governmental (NGO) wildlife organization in Namibia which relies wholly on funding from private sponsors, companies and other wildlife organizations.