WINDHOEK: Power supply to Ariamsvlei, Noordoewer, and the surrounding areas will only be restored by Saturday, NamPower has announced. The Namibia Power Corporation earlier this week said the affected areas have been without electricity since Sunday afternoon due to an electrical fault on the second (220/132 kV 40 MVA) transformer at the Harib Substation, which supplies these areas. It initially said power supply would be restored by Wednesday, but has since announced that the transporting and commissioning of the replacement transformer will take longer than earlier envisaged. 'The replacement transformer has reached Harib Substation and work to commission the transformer has commenced. It is anticipated that power supply to the affected areas will be restored on Saturday, 24 February,' the statement said. The public is cautioned to treat all power lines and electrical points as live during power outages as no prior notification is given when power supply is restored. 'NamPower apologises to the residen ts of Ariamsvlei, Aussenkehr, Warmbad, Noordoewer and surrounding areas and the public at large, for any inconvenience that the outage may cause,' the statement read. Source: The Namibia Press Agency A founding contract of the Management and Operating Company of the Ben Guerdane Free Zone was signed, Thursday, at the Trade Ministry. This contract is a crucial step towards the effective start of the project on creating this free zone, said Trade Minister, Kalthoum Ben Rejeb, during contract's signing ceremony, adding that it is a public-private partnership project. This project will help develop the region and fight against parallel trade, the minister pointed out. Ben Rejeb spoke of the specificities of the Ben Guerdane region which favors the creation of a commercial and logistics hub capable of increasing the volume of trade between Tunisia and Libya as well as between North Africa and sub-Saharan countries. The free zone could serve as a hub between the two African and European continents. The minister added that «the Ben Guerdane free zone will help get the area's locals involved in various economic, commercial, logistical and leisure activities which will be developed within the framework of this zone. It will also constitute an important component of the continental land trade corridor and an essential lever for the rehabilitation of the Ras Jedir border crossing according to international standards. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse