Foreign-owned companies will be exempted from Namibia’s proposed 51% ownership policy, which applies only to Namibian-registered companies and joint ventures with local participation, an official has clarified.
According to Louise Hangero, Local Content Specialist at the Upstream Petroleum Unit under the Presidency, parts of the industry have misunderstood the policy, believing it requires all contracts to be awarded to companies with majority Namibian ownership.
She said this is not the case, explaining that the provision is intended to promote partnerships in which Namibians hold significant equity through registered joint ventures or Namibian-registered entities.
“The misunderstanding is that all contracts must go to such companies, but the policy only encourages partnerships between foreign and Namibian entities,” she said.
Hangero clarified that the 51% requirement applies only to Namibian-registered joint ventures seeking to be recognised as local companies.
“It’s not that the international company must have 51% Namibian ownership. They can come as a foreign company and partner locally, even if it’s 5%, 10% or 20%,” she said during an industry engagement hosted by Baker Hughes.
She added that foreign firms are free to retain control of their investments while partnering with Namibian entities at varying levels of ownership. The measure, she said, is designed to encourage collaboration rather than enforce ownership transfers on international investors.
“The policy defines a Namibian entity or a local company. A local company is one registered in Namibia with 51% Namibian shareholding and 30% previously disadvantaged shareholding,” Hangero said.
The clarification follows a government proposal that would require 51% Namibian ownership in all new mining ventures, a measure aimed at strengthening local equity, promoting inclusivity and ensuring long-term sustainability in the resource sector.
Speaking at the 2025 Mining Expo in Windhoek in August, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mines and Energy, Natangwe Ithete, said the proposal forms part of a broader review of the Minerals Bill, with consultations currently under way to align mining laws with equitable and modern industry standards.
“Furthermore, we are actively consulting with industry stakeholders on mechanisms that will promote 51% Namibian ownership in new mining ventures. We believe that local empowerment is not only a matter of social justice, but also a cornerstone for long-term stability and sustainability in the sector,” Ithete said.
He added that the Ministry is prioritising policy frameworks that strengthen local ownership, build capacity and promote value addition across the mining industry.
