The allocation gives rail the largest share of the Ministry of Works and Transport’s transport infrastructure programmes, exceeding the N$771.4 million earmarked for roads. The scale of the investment reflects a broader push to address the condition and reliability of Namibia’s rail network while advancing the Railway Master Plan and positioning rail as a more effective component of the country’s logistics infrastructure.

Ministry Director for Administration Moses Matatias told members of the National Council that railway development remains a flagship government programme, with implementation being undertaken through TransNamib. “The second programme under the Department of Transport is the Provision and Upgrading of the Railway Network. This is the Ministry’s flagship programme and receives the largest allocation. The programme has been allocated N$952 million for the current financial year,” said Matatias.

Of the N$952.1 million allocation, N$946 million will go towards development activities, with N$6.1 million allocated to operational expenditure. Government’s immediate target is to upgrade 1,000 kilometres of railway infrastructure during the 2026/27 financial year, with the target rising to 1,360 kilometres by 2028/29. The programme also provides for the maintenance of 1,600 kilometres of railway lines annually, highlighting the government’s focus not only on expanding or upgrading the network but also on keeping existing infrastructure operational and reliable.

The financial commitment is expected to remain substantial over the medium term. Rail funding is projected to increase to N$1.17 billion in 2027/28 before moderating to N$1.08 billion in 2028/29. Government is simultaneously working to strengthen the regulatory architecture underpinning the sector, targeting completion of 28% of the Railway Master Plan and an 80% review of primary railway legislation. Taken together, the infrastructure and policy targets point to an attempt to create a more coherent rail system capable of supporting Namibia’s evolving logistics requirements.

The rail investment forms part of approximately N$1.72 billion allocated to road and railway infrastructure programmes in 2026/27. Roads remain a major component of the strategy, with N$771.4 million allocated to the sector, including N$764.4 million for development expenditure. Government is targeting the upgrading of 2,300 kilometres of gravel roads to bitumen standard by 2026/27, while a further 725 kilometres of roads are earmarked for rehabilitation. The road programme also includes the construction of a weighbridge and a vehicle registration centre, alongside road safety interventions.

The significance of the infrastructure push extends beyond the condition of individual roads and railway lines. A more reliable transport network is increasingly important to the movement of minerals, agricultural products and other freight between production centres, ports and neighbouring markets. The government’s decision to place rail ahead of roads in the current transport infrastructure allocation therefore signals more than a capital spending priority. It points to an effort to reshape the country’s freight architecture around a network capable of supporting larger volumes of trade and improving Namibia’s role as a regional logistics corridor.

The post Logistics Reset Puts Rail at the Centre of Namibia’s Freight Ambitions appeared first on Namibian Mining News.

The company expects the additional capital to fund the next phase of work over the coming years, before development expenditure and first oil are even factored into the equation. “Together, we have to decide the next programme that could cost us another N$13 billion for the next couple of years, even before we start thinking of development and first oil. So there is a big technical risk but there is a huge financial risk involved in that one,” said  Bastos at the recent Namibia Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition.

Galp holds interests in Petroleum Exploration Licence 83 (PEL 83), where it made the Mopane discovery through a five-well drilling campaign. The licence extends beyond the existing discoveries, leaving further exploration and appraisal work necessary before the partners can determine the scale and configuration of a potential development. The next phase is already taking shape, with TotalEnergies set to become operator of PEL 83 and a further three-well campaign expected to begin in November 2026.

“Next, we are planning to drill three more wells, starting now in November, probably November 2026. And that will further de-risk towards a potential FID, that together, we have a target of 2028,” noted Bastos. The wells are expected to provide greater clarity on the volumes of hydrocarbons in the area and help determine the most commercially viable development concept for Mopane. He added, “We need to drill first. We need the next well that’s key for us on additional volumes, and then you define our strategy for the development of Mopane. But there’s lots to do till you go to FID, but it’s nice to be aggressive. It’s nice to have a target. Time is of the essence.”

The scale of the proposed pre-development spending underscores the financial exposure of frontier offshore projects, where billions can be committed years before a project generates its first revenues. However, the investment also raises the stakes around the policy and operating environment required to support long-term offshore development. Bastos said regulatory certainty and national stability would be critical as the partners consider investments that could extend over decades.

Bastos said, “And second is, as you say, Namibia’s stability, so we know that when you make investment like that, there’s a marriage for the next 30 years at least. We need to understand from the long-term plan where are we going.”

The development could also create a larger industrial footprint beyond the offshore wells themselves. Bastos identified local content as an important consideration, arguing that building domestic capabilities should form part of the commercial logic of major petroleum developments.

In conclusion, Bastos noted, “Local content is a natural course of the industry. If you look at Brazil, for example, look at the higher level they have today of local content. Because it makes business sense to develop capabilities and create where we do operate.” The immediate priority remains drilling. The next three wells will help determine whether the discovery can move from a promising offshore resource into a commercially viable development and whether Namibia’s emerging oil industry is ready for the scale of capital that could follow.

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The Strategic and Technical Conferences officially opened on 19 August alongside the exhibition, bringing together government, industry leaders, investors and innovators to examine how the country can turn its emerging petroleum industry into a wider engine of economic development.

Opening the conference on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Vice President Lucia Witbooi delivered a clear message that discovering oil is only the beginning.

“Discovery is not the destination. A resource beneath our waters becomes a national success only when it is responsibly developed and translated into tangible improvements in the lives of our people. It must become employment for Namibians, opportunities for our enterprises, skills for our young people, technology for our institutions, infrastructure for our economy, revenues for national development and savings for future generations,” said Witbooi.

The emphasis reflects a growing focus on ensuring the petroleum boom creates opportunities across the wider economy rather than concentrating benefits around offshore production.

Office of the President’s Special Advisor and Head of the Upstream Petroleum Unit, Kornelia Shilunga reinforced the message by cautioning against treating first oil as the ultimate measure of success.

Shilunga noted, “As we look towards first oil, we must also look beyond first oil. The first barrel will be an important milestone but it cannot be a destination. The real dividend must be reflected in jobs that are created, strong and viable businesses, improved infrastructure, technology transfer, skills development, increased government revenues, industrial growth and improved opportunities for future generations.”

That framing puts local participation and economic spillovers at the centre of the country’s petroleum ambitions. The challenge is no longer simply developing the resource but ensuring the skills, businesses, infrastructure and industrial capacity are in place to capture value from it. The exhibition brought that ambition to life, showcasing technologies, energy solutions and engineering capabilities while connecting investors and industry players with emerging opportunities across the energy value chain.

The first barrel may mark the start of production but it should also mark the beginning of a much larger economic dividend. The real measure of success will be what the oil industry creates beyond the oil itself.

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The engagement took place during a week-long visit by a senior US delegation led by US Ambassador to Namibia John Giordano and Deputy Under Secretary of Energy Mike Kopp, who met government officials, state-owned enterprises and companies across Namibia’s energy and mining sectors. The delegation met the Namibian Atomic Energy Board to discuss uranium, critical minerals, infrastructure and Namibia’s “civil nuclear ambitions”, as well as opportunities to deepen cooperation between the two countries.

The discussions included the potential future role of US small modular reactor (SMR) and microreactor technologies in meeting Namibia’s growing electricity requirements. No agreement on the deployment of nuclear technology was announced. “This visit reinforced the vast opportunities for US-Namibian partnership in pursuit of shared energy goals, including furthering energy access and security, a robust critical minerals supply chain with local beneficiation, hydrocarbons to support industrialisation and advancing the civil nuclear energy process,” said Kopp.

The nuclear discussions come as Namibia seeks to expand domestic power generation to support mining, industrialisation and wider economic activity. The US delegation also held operational discussions with the Namibia Power Corporation on strengthening the national electricity grid and expanding generation capacity. Namibia’s status as the world’s third-largest uranium producer gives the nuclear discussions added strategic weight, particularly as the country seeks greater local value from its mineral resources.

The US Trade and Development Agency also explored potential support for infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening mineral processing and value-added development, including in the uranium sector. The delegation further met leaders from Rhino Resources, Shell and the Namibian Petroleum Operators Association to discuss the development of Namibia’s emerging oil and gas industry. The embassy concluded, “Namibia’s nascent oil and gas sector will bring prosperity to the country and Namibia is emerging as a strategic partner for US investment and a cornerstone of southern Africa’s energy future.”

The discussions signal a potentially broader US role in Namibia’s evolving energy economy, spanning nuclear technology, grid infrastructure, uranium beneficiation and hydrocarbons. However, the nuclear partnership remains exploratory, with no deployment agreement announced.

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The initiative was hosted by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), with Appian Capital Advisory as founding strategic partner. Appian Capital Advisory said, “Namibia has no shortage of investor interest in its mining sector. What is needed are more advanced and professionally managed projects that meet investors’ expectations. NamXplor was designed to help close that gap and build a stronger pipeline of investment-ready projects for the country. As a leading global private equity firm in metals and mining with a strong presence in Namibia, Appian welcomed the opportunity to support the competition and offer our expertise to its participants.”

The selected project owners also received investment-readiness coaching, technical feedback from industry experts, exposure to investors and financiers, an opportunity to pitch to Appian Capital Advisory and potential post-event engagement with selected strategic partners. The Okotjize Iron Ore Project, presented by Project Promoter Theresia Aochamus, emerged as the first-place winner, followed by ABMogn Exploration in second place and the Mickal Critical Minerals Project in third.

For Aochamus, the recognition represents an important milestone for the exploration-stage iron ore project in the Erongo Region, which she has been advancing through reconnaissance and fieldwork. She is now seeking strategic investors and development partners to support the next phase of exploration and development. “The most important thing is that these projects have been given a platform to be seen by investors. There are Namibian project owners with mineral opportunities that require capital, technical expertise and strategic partnerships to move their projects forward,” said Aochamus.

The initiative aligns with Namibia’s wider ambitions around mining investment, mineral beneficiation, value addition, local participation and industrialisation. Acting Chief Executive Officer of NIPDB, Julia Muetudhana, concluded, “NamXplor is about turning Namibia’s mineral potential into investable opportunities by connecting project owners with the capital, expertise and strategic partnerships needed to advance their projects.We invite investors and partners to work with NIPDB in unlocking the next generation of mining, innovation and technology opportunities for Namibia.”

The challenge therefore offers more than recognition for individual projects. It provides a mechanism for bringing Namibia’s emerging mineral opportunities closer to the capital and expertise required to turn exploration potential into viable mining ventures.

The post NamXplor Opens Namibia’s Next Mining Investment Pipeline – Updates appeared first on Namibian Mining News.

Bannerman said it will implement the workforce plan through staged recruitment and capability development while establishing a human resources information and payroll system to support organisational growth. The approach reflects the company’s transition from project development towards operational readiness as Etango advances towards construction and eventual production. During the 2026 financial year, Bannerman assessed workforce requirements for the following 12 to 18 months, with recruitment focused on management, operational, technical, health and safety, environmental and support personnel.

The Etango project in the Erongo Region is one of Namibia’s major uranium developments. Bannerman said the project has received all environmental approvals for the proposed mine and associated external infrastructure, while a mining licence was awarded in December 2023. A definitive feasibility study completed in December 2022 confirmed the technical and economic viability of Etango-8, based on conventional open-pit mining and heap-leach processing at a throughput of eight million tonnes a year. The study envisaged average annual production of 3.5 million pounds of uranium oxide, while a subsequent 2024 scoping study identified potential to increase annual production to 6.7 million pounds.

Bannerman’s sustainability report also highlights its strategic joint venture agreement with CNNC Overseas Limited for the Etango Project and continued progress on early works during FY2026. The company said these developments have required it to strengthen governance, management systems and organisational capability ahead of full-scale construction. Environmental performance has also remained a focus. Bannerman reported no reportable environmental incidents during FY2026, while two independent environmental audits were completed without non-conformances and its Environmental Clearance Certificates remained in place.

The company also updated its mine closure plan and reviewed potential waste-rock materials for use in rehabilitation and closure. Community investment remains part of Bannerman’s local strategy. The company supported 355 learners at 17 disadvantaged primary schools in the Erongo Region through its Early Learner Assistance programme, with the remaining 45 learners from its original 400-learner target supported in July 2026. It also continued supporting the Mondesa Youth Opportunities programme and organisations including the Tourism Supporting Conservation Trust, Hospitality Association of Namibia and Namibia Chamber of Environment.

Infrastructure support was provided to Vanessa Kindergarten and Katora Primary School hostel in Spitzkoppe. The initiatives point to Bannerman’s broader effort to build the human, organisational and community foundations around Etango ahead of the project’s next development phase.

The post Etango’s Next Chapter Takes Shape Around Namibian Talent appeared first on Namibian Mining News.

Uis Tin Mining Company (UTMC) has executed definitive agreements for loan facilities totaling NAD98 million with Bank Windhoek and the Development Bank of Namibia Limited.

According to the Andrada Mining subsidiary, the loan facilities comprise two equal NAD49 million tranches and all conditions precedent governing loan disbursement have been met to the satisfaction of both lenders.

The loan facilities complete UTMC’s funding requirements for the planned operational upgrades at the Uis Mine and enable the Company to progress the ore-sorting expansion into execution.

“The strengthening of the collaboration with two of Namibia’s leading financial institutions, has enabled Andrada to complete the funding required to materially de-risk the delivery of the Uis ore-sorting expansion,” Anthony Viljoen, Andrada Chief Executive Officer.

Viljoen said the company can now continue to move decisively into project execution mode to further unlock the mine’s operational and cash-generating potential through increased throughput and processing efficiency.

“The appointment of two well-known engineering firms to fabricate and execute on this project, has enabled the early work required, to meet the project delivery timelines.”

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Latest statistics indicate that foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows between 2021 and 2024 reached N$151billion, far exceeding the N$50billion recorded between 2009 and 2020 and global interest continues to rise.

In a recent Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) webinar, four experts from the firm unpacked key trends driving the investment boom and explored how organisations can position themselves to benefit from this new era of opportunity.

Patrick Kauta, CDH Managing Partner and Director of Dispute Resolution saidt while recent FDI has been significant, the sum was used for exploration, which itself is capital-intensive.

“The challenge now is to convert foreign direct investment into tangible improvements like job creation,” he said.

In terms of driving this economic change, Ilda Lomba, CDH Director of Corporate & Commercial, said the National Development Plan (NDP6) positions oil and gas as strategic drivers of economic transformation, not just revenue-generating sectors.

“The focus is on value addition and beneficiation, rather than exporting raw resources,” she said. “In essence, the plan shifts Namibia from a raw resource exporter to a resource-based industrial economy, aligning natural resources development with long-term national growth.”

This challenge is echoed in the mining sector, which contributes approximately 13 percent to GDP and is both a priority and enabling sector under Namibia’s NDP6. Magano Erkana, Director of Banking, Finance & Projects, highlighted a need for government to optimise returns from these resources and invest in other sectors for sustainable development to uplift the standard of living for Namibians.

Ambitious targets have been set, including increasing the export of processed minerals from 46.6 percent to 57 percent by 2030 and attracting N$30billion in new mining investments. Erkana noted that the mining sector itself is positioned for significant expansion, with projects expected to drive capital expenditure of over N$2.8billion and create over 500 000 jobs by 2030.

Infrastructure development underpins much of this growth, with government focused on positioning Namibia as a strategic gateway that connects SADC with the world.

“Within the framework of the public-private forum, which is an institutionalised public-private dialogue that was launched in October 2025, it’s meant to facilitate collective effort and joint ownership by both public and private sectors in order to achieve the set goals,” Erkana added, listing targeted developments such as warehousing facilities and equipment, logistic parks, and increasing the transport capacity of the four main corridors, being Trans-Kalahari, Trans-Caprivi, Trans-Kunene, and Trans-Oranje.

Lomba added that energy infrastructure is a critical enabler of Namibia’s oil and gas sector. “Without it, discoveries cannot be commercially developed,” she said, pointing to the need for refineries, gas-to-power facilities, and expanded port and storage capacity.

Funding these large-scale projects requires a mix of financial structures. Erkana explained that mining projects typically rely on a combination of debt and equity, each with trade-offs.

“Equity financing offers access to capital without repayment obligations, but may result in equity dilution, whereas debt financing may come with higher interest rates and the pressure of meeting repayment schedules,” she said.

Alternative models such as royalty and streaming arrangements are gaining traction, offering upfront capital while preserving balance sheet flexibility. These structures, Erkana noted, can be tailored to project lifecycles and provide long-term, stable, and predictable returns for investors.

From a tax and structuring perspective, Mercy Kuzeeko, CDH Director of Tax & Exchange Control, emphasised the importance of careful planning when entering the Namibian market.

“Investors really have to determine the mode of entering the country and how they intend to fund their investment,” she said, noting that the choice between equity and debt has distinct tax and regulatory implications.

Meanwhile the country’s source-based tax system means that both foreigners and residents are only taxed on income that’s sourced in Namibia, offering a level of certainty for investors.

However, Kuzeeko cautioned that proposed legislative changes, including the recharacterisation of certain hybrid instruments, would influence how investors are going to structure their mode of investments.

Kuzeeko also outlined the primary investment vehicles available, including subsidiaries, branches, and joint ventures, stressing the importance of proper structuring from the outset to ensure the efficient repatriation of dividends and interest payments.

Lomba noted that the local content principle is central to ensuring that Namibia’s resource wealth translates into broad-based economic benefits for the Namibians.

“Under NDP 6, the focus is not just on the number of jobs available now, but on job opportunities to be created over time.” She warned, however, that implementation must be balanced.

“If it is too strict too early, it may discourage investment, but if it’s too weak, Namibia risks limited local benefit.”

Policy certainty and regulatory reform remain key to sustaining investor confidence. Erkana pointed to ongoing efforts to modernise outdated legislation, including a new Minerals Bill and a proposed Investment Promotion and Facilitation Bill aimed at streamlining processes and encouraging value addition.

“Government is looking to create an environment in which businesses can grow and create jobs. The creation of this enabling environment includes removing barriers, cutting red tape, and ensuring that enterprises thrive and FDI continues to increase,” she said.

The post Oil and gas drivers of economic transformation – Updated appeared first on Namibian Mining News.

The AIM-listed miner reported that a 20,000-tonne blast successfully liberated approximately 2,000 tonnes of commercially viable mineralization. Initial evaluations indicate that the surface mineralization aligns with the project’s geological block model regarding both location and tenor.

The company’s grade-control team is preparing to evaluate assays from blasthole sampling against surface expressions to select run-of-mine (RoM) ore for stockpiling. The haulage of RoM ore to the Tsaoxaub Metals flotation plant is scheduled to begin shortly, building a initial stockpile required ahead of plant commissioning.

Operations are scaling up concurrently on site, with the onboarding of a plant site manager complete and workforce recruitment ongoing. Drilling has already been finalized for a second blast, while mining contractor Unitrans has initiated ground clearance and waste-ore separation.

“We are pleased to announce this important milestone in the development of the Hope and Gorob copper and gold mine,” said Colin Bird, Executive Chairperson of Bezant Resources. “The blast was successful with excellent fragmentation and extremely well positioned relative to ore. The result is testament to our external geological advisor Sound Mining and also our newly recruited geological staff.”

Bezant’s mine geology team is collaborating with external technical consultancy Sound Mining to further validate the existing resource block model as site activity intensifies.

“The project continues to move forward in all aspects and we are particularly pleased with progress at the Namib Lead and Zinc Mining plant where current activity is intense,” Bird added. “We will keep the market updated as we proceed towards the key milestones of ore input and saleable concentrate.”

The post Bezant Resources Advances Namibia Copper-Gold Project With First Open-Pit Blast appeared first on Namibian Mining News.

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