President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says Namibia’s energy sector is closely linked to the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).
The NDP6 focuses on economic diversification, value addition, job creation and sustainable management of resources.
She stressed that value addition is crucial for the domestic economy because it is inextricably linked to job creation.
“The value addition is very important for Namibia because that is where job creation happens,” she said.
The President made these remarks yesterday at the official opening of the eighth Namibia International Energy Conference, themed ‘The Road to First Oil and Beyond: Partnerships, Investment, Growth’.
Opening the conference, Nandi-Ndaitwah said oil and gas developments can play a major role in supporting national priorities.
She noted that the sector can help stimulate linked industries and expand the country’s production base.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah added that the energy sector reflects commitments of the Swapo election manifesto, which focuses on inclusive growth, national ownership of resources, youth empowerment and shared prosperity.
She highlighted that local content, skills development and wider participation of Namibians in the sector remain key priorities.
The President said these policies together guide how Namibia’s petroleum sector should be developed. The aim, she said, is not only to produce oil but also to use it to advance national development, strengthen the economy and improve livelihoods.
She reiterated that the theme of the conference shows that the road to oil and beyond requires partnerships and investment for economic growth and development.
Nandi-Ndaitwah also said strategic reforms are needed to build confidence among investors and citizens, as well as to support long-term growth in Namibia under the guidance of the Swapo.
She noted that the Petroleum Exploration and Production Amendment Bill, currently before Parliament, represents a significant step in strengthening governance, enhancing transparency and providing regulatory clarity to investors while safeguarding the national interest through the natural resources’ beneficiation agenda.
“Further, targeted amendments will address operational and technical aspects to support the transition from exploration to production,” she said. During her opening speech, the President added that, through the strategic promotion of geological potential, Namibia has attracted significant global investment, positioning the country as an emerging energy player.
This progress is underpinned by major offshore discoveries, particularly in the Orange Basin, where TotalEnergies and partners made their significant Venus discovery. It is described as one of the largest global deepwater oil finds in recent history.
Also, Shell and others have confirmed multiple discoveries in the same vicinity.
“Galp Energia has reported significant findings in the Mopane complex. Additional discoveries by Rhino Resources and Azule Energy Namibia, including the Capricornus and Volans prospects, further reinforce this potential,” said President Nandi-Ndaitwah.
The implications of these discoveries are significant, as they present a pathway to economic transformation through increased revenue, infrastructure development, industrial growth and employment creation.
They also position Namibia within the global energy system during a period of transition.
The development of Namibia’s oil and gas sector is firmly anchored in the country’s broader national development framework and long-term policy direction.
The national approach is guided by Vision 2030, which sets out Namibia’s aspiration to become a prosperous and industrialised nation.
In this national endeavour, the petroleum sector provides a critical opportunity to accelerate this vision by unlocking new sources of revenue, supporting industrialisation, and enabling large-scale infrastructure development.
Deal
A day earlier, Namibia and Angola signed a power purchase agreement and joint development agreement to advance the Angola-Namibia Power Transmission Interconnector Project (ANNA).
The ANNA Interconnector Project is estimated to cost about N$941 million (US.dollars 52.3 million) and is scheduled for completion in 2029.
The agreements were signed by the Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower) and Angola’s Rede Nacional de Transporte de Electricidade (RNT).
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Luanda, Angola, energy minister Modestus Amutse, said the next step will be a formal groundbreaking ceremony by the two countries’ heads of state.
“This national project will allow for the expansion of electrification in the provinces of Huíla and Cunene, including supply to the town of Xangongo and the reinforcement of the Ondjiva power system.
“It will ensure that the benefits of the infrastructure translate directly into improved energy supply for populations in the south of the country,” he said.
The ANNA transmission
The interconnector project entails the construction of a 166-kilometre, 400 kV transmission line linking the Kunene substation in Namibia to the Cahama substation in Angola, of which 30 kilometres will be within Namibia.
The project will be further strengthened by the development of an additional 270-kilometre transmission line connecting the Omatando and Otjikoto substations.
“The project involves the construction of a very high-voltage (400 kV) electrical interconnection. The initially projected capacity is up to 500 MW, aimed at enhancing the reliability of the power systems and boosting regional energy trade,” he added.
At the same event, NamPower MD Simson Haulofu said the project presents a practical and forward-looking solution, creating an opportunity to optimise and share our respective energy resources more effectively.
-Additional reporting by Nampa