Circular energy represents not only an environmental imperative but a significant economic opportunity.
By embracing the circular energy approach, Namibia stands to reduce dependency on imports, stimulate local industries, create jobs, strengthen energy security and position itself as a regional leader in sustainable innovation.
This was the sentiment expressed by Indileni Daniel, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, at the recent Circular Economy Powered Renewable Energy Centre (CEPREC) Namibian Summit.
At the event, themed ‘Advancing Circular Energy for Sustainable Development in Namibia’, Daniel stressed the urgency of advancing sustainable and inclusive energy systems across Namibia and the African continent.
During her keynote address, the minister highlighted the dual challenge facing the region, expanding access to reliable and affordable energy, particularly for rural and underserved communities.
This is while ensuring that such expansion remains environmentally sustainable, economically viable and resilient.
She noted that, across the Southern African Development Community region, nearly 100 million people still lack access to electricity.
Additionally, over 150 million rely on traditional biomass for cooking alongside an estimated annual energy financing gap of US$83 billion.
Positioning circular energy systems as a practical and necessary solution, the minister stressed that these approaches move beyond the traditional “produce, use, dispose” model.
This is done by extending the lifecycle of materials, recovering value from waste and embedding sustainability across energy systems.
She pointed to innovations such as repurposing end-of-life batteries and strengthening local value chains as key opportunities for the continent.
Moreover, the minister referenced Namibia’s target of achieving 70% renewable energy in the national electricity mix by 2030.
It is supported by policy reforms such as the Modified Single Buyer model, which is enabling increased participation from Independent Power Producers.
Daniel also noted the country’s ongoing efforts to advance green industrialisation.
She confirmed that Namibia is currently developing a National Circular Economy Policy in collaboration with the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF).
The policy aims to embed circularity across key sectors, including energy, waste and industrial development.
At the recent three-day summit, Namibia reinforced its position at the forefront of Africa’s energy transition.
Convened by the Circular Economy Powered Renewable Energy Centre (CEPREC) in partnership with the EIF and the University of Namibia (Unam), the high-level event brought together senior policymakers, industry leaders, development partners and academic experts to explore practical pathways for integrating circular economy principles into renewable energy systems.
The EIF’s chief operations officer, Karl Aribeb, on behalf of the CEO Benedict Libanda, stressed that the transition to a circular economy powered by renewable energy is no longer a distant ambition but an immediate and actionable pathway for sustainable development.
He highlighted that, when powered by renewable energy, circular approaches can significantly reduce emissions while unlocking new economic opportunities.
With Namibia’s abundant solar and wind resources, the country is uniquely positioned to drive industrial growth, stimulate innovation and strengthen local value chains through circular energy systems.
Emphasis was placed on the importance of coordinated action across government, private sector, financiers and communities to unlock investment, de-risk innovation and translate policy into implementation.
The recent event marked the conclusion of the 2026 International CEPREC Summit, themed ‘Closing the Loop: Harnessing Circular Energy and Partnerships to Power Africa’s Remote Communities’.
The role of universities and research institutions was emphasised as critical to bridging the gap between knowledge and practice.
Participants underscored the need for deeper collaboration between academia, industry and government to ensure that innovation is both applicable and scalable within local contexts.
Reflecting on the outcomes, Prof. Muyiwa Oyinlola, director of CEPREC, noted that the transition to circular energy systems is fundamentally a coordination challenge.
It requires stronger institutional collaboration and more integrated approaches across sectors.
He said Namibia is a compelling example of how locally embedded partnerships can translate ambition into implementation.
The event also underscored the growing relevance of circular economy approaches, particularly lifecycle management, reuse and local value creation, as key enablers of both environmental sustainability and economic resilience.
Participants emphasised that embedding these principles into policy frameworks, financing models and industrial strategies will be critical to building inclusive and future-ready energy systems.
A key outcome of the event was the development of a draft communiqué, capturing priority actions and areas for continued collaboration among stakeholders.
This is expected to inform ongoing policy dialogue and programme development within Namibia and across the CEPREC partner countries.
Overall, the summit reinforced CEPREC’s role in convening cross-sector dialogue and advancing research driven, practical solutions to Africa’s energy challenges.
It also highlighted Namibia’s growing leadership in shaping integrated and scalable approaches to sustainable energy transitions.
The Circular Economy Powered Renewable Energy Centre (CEPREC) is a Pan-African Research Centre of Excellence, dedicated to advancing sustainable energy solutions through circular economy innovations.
Funded by the United Kingdom Government’s Ayrton Fund, CEPREC brings together leading institutions from across Africa and the UK to drive research, policy engagement and capacity building.