Namibia’s total harvestable biomass from encroached land is estimated at approximately 450 million tonnes, assuming an average yield of 10 tonnes per hectare.
The resource also renews naturally, with woody species regenerating within 5 to 15 years.
Even using a conservative regrowth rate of 3 per cent annually, Namibia adds around 13.5 million tonnes of fresh biomass every year, offering a sustainable long-term supply for industrial use.
This vast resource is rooted in the nation’s ecological challenge of bush encroachment.
The spread and thickening of indigenous woody plants have affected approximately 45 million hectares, or more than 60 per cent, of Namibia’s savanna rangelands.
Other estimates put the affected area between 260,000 and 300,000 square kilometres, spanning nine of the country’s 14 regions.
While this has degraded rangeland productivity, it has simultaneously created one of the largest untapped biomass resources in southern Africa.
The primary drivers of bush encroachment are poor rangeland management practices, overgrazing, suppression of natural fires, and reduced browsing by wildlife.
Climate change and rising CO₂ levels have accelerated the process, favouring woody species over grasses. What began as an ecological crisis has since evolved into an economic opportunity, with bush control efforts fuelling the growth of Namibia’s biomass industry.
Charcoal production has become the dominant sub-sector of this industry, with Namibia producing over 200,000 tonnes annually.
Of this, around 100,000 tonnes were exported to Europe in 2020, while South Africa imported about 80,000 tonnes.
Namibia is currently the world’s fifth-largest supplier of charcoal. Between 2009 and 2020, the charcoal industry generated over N$4.1 billion (about EUR 280 million) in foreign exchange earnings.
Employment in the sector has also grown significantly, with the workforce increasing from around 6,000 in 2016/17 to between 10,000 and 11,000 workers in more recent years.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, which guarantees environmental and labour standards, has become widespread.
Certified production areas tripled in the three years leading up to 2020, helping Namibian exporters access premium European markets.
Companies like UNIFOODS Charcoal have gone further by applying Natural Capital Accounting (NCA), integrating ecological and business data to measure the full impact of operations.
Industry organisations, such as the Charcoal Association of Namibia (CAoN), also known as the Namibia Charcoal Association (NCA), play a crucial role in training, setting standards, and facilitating market access.
Ohorongo Cement, near Otavi, uses approximately 80,000 tonnes of encroacher bush wood chips annually for thermal energy, valued at roughly N$65 million. Namibia Breweries in Windhoek has a dedicated biomass boiler that consumes approximately 7,500 tonnes annually.
These industries have proven that bush-to-energy systems are viable and competitive alternatives to fossil fuels.
Studies suggest that Namibia’s encroached bush could support up to 1,400 MW of power generation for 30 years, or 200 MW for more than 200 years if harvested sustainably.
The flagship initiative in this sector is the 40 MW Otjikoto Biomass Power Station, developed by NamPower near Tsumeb.
It will require between 205,000 and 245,000 tonnes of wood chips per year, harvested from about 16,200 hectares.
With an investment of more than N$2 billion (US$152 million), the project is backed by financing from the French Development Agency and other partners.
Once commissioned in 2027, it is expected to inject N$200–245 million annually into the Oshikoto region through feedstock procurement and generate economic activity valued at around N$21 billion over its lifetime.
The Otjikoto plant alone is projected to offset around 0.308 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.
By thinning encroached bush, the project is also expected to improve groundwater recharge and restore grazing potential for livestock farming, creating a dual ecological and economic win.
Animal feed and biochar represent emerging biomass value chains. Encroacher bush can be converted into animal feed products, providing drought resilience for Namibia’s livestock sector.
Biochar, produced through pyrolysis, has applications in soil improvement and carbon sequestration.
Both areas are in early stages but hold potential to diversify the biomass industry further and enhance its contribution to sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.
These developments show how Namibia has turned a widespread ecological challenge into an economic sector with multiple value chains.
From charcoal exports worth billions of Namibian dollars to renewable energy projects worth over N$2 billion, the biomass industry is creating jobs, attracting investment, and supporting the national grid.
The scale of the resource—hundreds of millions of tonnes of encroached bush—ensures that these opportunities are not short-term fixes but form part of a sustainable long-term strategy.
Namibia’s biomass industry also feeds directly into the country’s green economy agenda. By substituting imported fossil fuels with locally sourced biomass, the sector reduces greenhouse gas emissions and strengthens energy independence.
The use of encroacher bush in certified charcoal production and renewable electricity generation contributes to Namibia’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, while simultaneously creating rural jobs and income.
Projects such as the Otjikoto Biomass Power Station align with the goals of the fifth National Development Plan (NDP5) and Vision 2030, positioning Namibia as both an exporter of sustainable products and a leader in climate adaptation.
This integration of environmental restoration, economic growth, and social development is a clear demonstration of how biomass serves as one of the pillars of Namibia’s emerging green economy.
