The government has reassured businesses and individuals that the country’s fuel supply system remains stable despite mounting fears over escalating tensions and the Israeli-United States war on Iran.
However, the Ministry of Industries, Mines, and Energy (MIME) hastened to caution that prolonged instability in global oil markets could further increase domestic fuel costs and place more pressure on international shipping logistics.
MIME acting executive director Erasmus Shivolo said Namibia’s fuel supply framework was designed to withstand external shocks through diversified sourcing strategies, continuous international procurement and a combination of State-owned and private-sector storage infrastructure.
His comments in response to New Era queries come as global energy markets remain on edge over the potential disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints, through which roughly a fifth of global petroleum supplies pass.
While concerns have intensified internationally over the possibility of shipping disruptions and soaring insurance premiums in the Gulf region, the executive director said Namibia’s immediate risk exposure lies more in higher global oil prices than in outright fuel shortages.
“The Strait of Hormuz is a key global energy transit route, and disruptions in that region can affect international oil markets to a huge extent,” he stated.
He added that, “for Namibia, the exposure is primarily on price pressure and not necessarily on product availability”.
The ministry stressed that Namibia does not rely on a single supplier or supply route for petroleum imports.
Instead, fuel procurement is handled commercially by oil marketing companies and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), which source fuel from a range of international refining hubs depending on market conditions.
Although the Gulf remains a dominant refining centre globally, Namibia can also source fuel from the Mediterranean, Singapore and other international oil markets when necessary.
This flexibility provides a critical buffer against geopolitical instability. “Oil marketing companies and Namcor continuously adjust their sourcing strategies to ensure cost efficiency and supply reliability, particularly during periods of global oil market uncertainty,” he said.
The executive director said the National Oil Storage Facility (NOSF) remains a key component of the domestic fuel security system, highlighting that the country does not depend on a single storage facility for supply continuity.
Instead, Namibia’s fuel security model is built around ongoing imports through the Port of Walvis Bay, backed by commercial storage facilities and distribution networks operated by both the State and the private sector.
He added: “At this stage, there is no indication of any significant disruptions to fuel deliveries into Namibia”.
“The country continues to receive petroleum products through established international oil procurement channels, and supply logistics remain operational,” he said. Meanwhile, industry analysts say Namibia’s exposure to international fuel shocks remains unavoidable because the country imports all its refined petroleum products, leaving domestic fuel prices vulnerable to fluctuations in global crude oil markets, freight rates and exchange rate movements.
At the policy level, the ministry said it continues to monitor global energy and shipping developments in collaboration with fuel importers, logistics operators and Namcor to ensure emerging risks are identified early. The ministry also acknowledged that rising freight and insurance costs could eventually feed into local fuel price adjustments through Namibia’s fuel pricing mechanism.
Despite reassurances, the current supply situation highlights Namibia’s continued dependence on international energy markets at a time when Namibia has made notable oil discoveries.
Geopolitical instability is increasingly reshaping global trade flows and commodity pricing.