Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has reaffirmed the country’s ambition to become a major power exporter and a driving force behind Africa’s collective energy security.
Speaking at the official opening of the 7th Namibia International Energy Conference, President Nandi-Ndaitwah—represented by Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare—called for deeper collaboration between government, academia, and industry.
“Our goal is to export power, strategic energy commodities, and foster knowledge partnerships, while promoting regional integration and enhancing Africa’s collective energy security,” she said.
Namibia is currently negotiating a green hydrogen export deal with South Africa, aimed at helping its neighbor lower carbon emissions in the automotive sector and remain competitive within the European Union (EU) market.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah also emphasized the importance of empowering Namibians to take charge of the country’s energy future.
She stressed the need for local capacity building, sustainable development, and strong governance.
“We urge all stakeholders—investors, operators, and service providers—to be active partners in building local expertise,” she stated.
“Let us prioritize skills development, technology transfer, and knowledge sharing across the energy value chain. Namibia’s energy future must be led by Namibians—capable, empowered, and globally competitive.”
In a recent strategic move, President Nandi-Ndaitwah transferred oversight of the oil and gas sector to the Office of the President, signaling a desire to better harness the economic benefits of Namibia’s growing energy industry.
She also underscored that Namibia’s energy ambitions go beyond extraction, focusing instead on creating long-term value for its citizens.
“We aim to position Namibia as one of Africa’s most attractive and reliable destinations for energy investment—where partnerships are built on trust, accountability, and shared long-term value,” the President said.
Namibia has witnessed a surge in energy investment in recent years. Oil exploration in the Orange Basin, for instance, helped drive foreign direct investment to N$12.6 billion (approximately US$655 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the Bank of Namibia.
Looking ahead, Namibia’s energy sector is set for significant growth, with opportunities spanning oil, gas, solar, wind, hydroelectric, nuclear power, and critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies.
