President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for the urgent need for Namibia to scale up value addition in the mining sector, identifying critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, manganese, graphite and rare earth elements as key targets for industrialisation.
“Among others, the critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, manganese, graphite and rare earth elements are a target for value addition,” the President said.
“Currently, only a fraction of our marble is exported as finished product. Therefore, more investment will be mobilised to scale up value addition.”
Speaking on the role of mining in Namibia’s economy, Nandi-Ndaitwah noted that the sector contributes around 12% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and over 50% of its foreign exchange earnings.
However, she argued that these figures do not reflect the sector’s full potential.
“We all know that value addition and natural resources beneficiation equals job creation and industrialisation,” she said, reiterating her administration’s commitment to shifting the country from a resource-exporting to a production-based economy.
According to the Head of State, Namibia could generate six to eight times more value from its mineral exports if local processing and manufacturing were prioritised.
In 2023, Namibia exported manganese ore valued at N$233 million, primarily to China and Singapore.
A manganese refinery and sulphuric acid plant are currently being planned by Green Metals Refining Namibia (GMRN) at Walvis Bay to support in-country beneficiation efforts.
As part of a broader industrialisation agenda, President Nandi-Ndaitwah announced plans to establish special economic zones along Namibia’s coastline.
These zones will host competitive industries and leverage port infrastructure to serve as strategic export hubs.
In a significant policy shift, the President also revealed that discussions on the development of a nuclear power plant in Namibia will commence during the current financial year.
This move is aimed at boosting energy security and supporting industrial growth.
“As part of value addition, we must not shy away from using this God-given resource to contribute to our energy mix,” she said.
“While I am not in a position to tell you when we will have a nuclear energy power plant in Namibia, I can assure you that the discussions will certainly begin this Financial Year.”
Namibia is Africa’s largest producer of uranium, the critical fuel source for nuclear power plants, giving the country a strategic advantage should it pursue nuclear energy as part of its long-term development plan.
