The journey has been shaped by foresight and deliberate action. Long before the recent discoveries, the government actively promoted the country’s potential in oil, gas and renewable energy, laying a strong foundation for long-term growth.
The establishment of Petrofund as a state-owned enterprise exemplifies such a vision of strategic investment in human capital to ensure that Namibians will be equipped to lead when the opportunity arrives.
Today, those early efforts are bearing fruit as the sector evolves and momentum builds toward a new chapter of energy-led transformation for Namibia and the continent of Africa.
As most of us know, Africa is home to substantial oil, gas and renewable energy reserves. This potential is key in attaining the aspirations of our Agenda 2063 and achieving the Africa we want, a global powerhouse of the future.
This transformation of Africa’s economy will be done through tapping into and developing our natural resources sustainably and responsibly.
Recent studies show that Africa is estimated to have contributed about eight per cent to the global oil supply in 2004 and 2005.
As both the global and African supply are expected to grow gradually this year, this outlook suggests Africa could increase its oil production from about 6.5 million barrels per day, which is currently, to almost 7 million barrels per day by the end of 2025.
And Namibia is committed to being at the heart of this development. As you have heard, Namibia has recently experienced oil and gas discoveries, particularly in the Orange Basin offshore.
Without a doubt, the government’s wish is to move from discovery to actual production without much delay, but with responsibility.
Namibia’s oil and gas sector has developed gradually and steadily.
We call on all our partners to work with us in a manner that reflects our shared commitment to responsible and sustainable progress.
This next step will unlock the revenues needed to invest in infrastructure, diversify our economy, strengthen public services, and uplift our people.
Through a well-paced approach, we will ensure our natural resources create long-term opportunities and national progress.
We know that going ahead requires collaboration, technical capability, and strong governance, and Namibia is ready.
As we grow our national capacity, we will do so in partnership with those who share our vision for sustainable growth and shared value.
Our approach to managing natural resources is collaborative. Government, industry, investors, and communities must work together.
The model we champion delivers both long-term value to the Namibian people and commercial returns.
We must walk this journey together, building on trust, mutual benefit, and transparency. We welcome investment, not just capital, but partnerships that align with our values and vision.
We seek partners to invest in skills, infrastructure, and knowledge transfer and who remain committed to Namibia’s long-term development goals.
The partnership we form today must deliver a lasting legacy of opportunity for generations to come. Local content and beneficiation remain central to our economic and inclusive growth strategy. Our approach is practical, faced, and focused on long-term impact.
We recognize that each stage of the energy value chain, from exploration to production, presents different opportunities and requires different levels of participation.
Our goal is to enable meaningful Namibian involvement by building skills, supporting local businesses, and fostering an environment where talent and enterprise can thrive.
Just as important, local content also includes value additions such as developing downstream capacity and infrastructure like refineries and promoting the ownership and meaningful participation of local companies in the sector.
As our national capacity expands, so will our ability to contribute meaningfully across the entire energy value chain, guided by partnership, readiness, and shared value.
At the centre of our energy vision, as we have said, is human capital development. Building Namibia’s future means investing in our people and equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to lead in a dynamic global sector.
We are strengthening partnerships between government, academia, and industry to ensure that education and training systems respond to the needs of a modern energy economy.
But we, in the government, cannot do it alone. We call on new stakeholders, investors, operators, and service providers to be active partners in building this local capacity.
Let us prioritise skills development, technology transfer, and knowledge sharing across the value chain. Namibia’s energy future must be led by Namibians who are capable, empowered, and globally competitive.
Good governance is the foundation of our energy ambitions.
The eighth administration is committed to transparency, opportunity, and ethical leadership, the values that are essential to building investor confidence and public trust. Our institutions will continue to be strengthened to ensure that Namibia’s natural wealth is managed fairly, responsibly, and in the best interest of its people. Corruption has no place in this journey, while integrity must guide all Namibians at every step.
Namibia is committed to creating an enabling environment where energy investment can prosper. We are streamlining regulatory processes, strengthening institutional coordination, and ensuring policy clarity to support timely and transparent decisions across the energy value chain.
With one of Africa’s most favourable petroleum fiscal regimes and incentives, Namibia’s fiscal framework encourages equitable sharing of economic benefits when a discovery is made.
We aim to position Namibia as one of Africa’s most attractive and reliable destinations for energy investments, where partnerships are built on trust, accountability and shared long-term value. Furthermore, Namibia’s energy ambitions will remain firmly aligned with our environmental values. We take pride in our global reputation for conservation and intend to uphold it.
As we grow our energy sector, we do so with a deep commitment to safeguarding biodiversity, respecting our natural heritage, and pursuing development that is both responsible and sustainable.
Namibia’s vision to become an energy hub is guided by strategy, informed by opportunity, and driven by national and continental priorities.
Our geographic position on the Atlantic coast makes us a natural logistics and export gateway to a share of global markets.
Combined with our democratic political stability, strong institutions that uphold the rule of law and expanding infrastructure give us a distinct competitive edge. We are richly endowed with energy resources, from oil and gas to solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear energy potential. Namibia is also home to critical metals essential for global clean energy technologies.
These assets position us as a future-ready energy player, powering our growth, contributing to regional markets, and advancing Africa’s collective energy security.
We aim to export power, strategic energy commodities, and knowledge partnerships while promoting regional integration and reshaping intra-Africa trade through energy-led industrialization.
Over the past 13 years, the Namibia International Energy Conference has grown into a respected world-class platform for dialogue, collaboration, and impact.
As a homegrown, women-led initiative, it has contributed meaningfully to investment, attraction, knowledge sharing, and practical solutions for Namibia’s energy future.
In the same regard, I commend and appreciate Mrs. Ndapila Porsel-Mashimto-Keni for establishing this platform.
Let me end with a clear and confident message. Namibia is on the path to becoming a leading energy hub, not just in ambition, but in action.
This transformation is deliberate, self-directed, and grounded in who we are. We are shaping a future that reflects our values, is driven by our people, and is aligned with our national priorities. We continue to learn from global best practices and embrace innovation, but we will continually adapt these lessons to suit Namibia’s unique context.
Let us lead the way forward together. Let us go together forward with integrity, determination, and a shared commitment to deliver lasting value for our people and the investment community. In addition to its energy potential, Namibia is one of Africa’s leading tourist destinations, known for its natural beauty, rich culture, and warm hospitality.
