Namibia is seeking partnerships with Russian companies to support the adoption of advanced mining technologies and expand mineral beneficiation as the country aims to increase value addition to its mineral resources.
International Relations and Trade Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi said cooperation with Russian investors could help strengthen Namibia’s mining sector through technology transfer and the development of downstream processing industries.
“In mining and mineral beneficiation, Namibia seeks partnerships that support the application of advanced mining technologies and the development of downstream processing industries that add value to our mineral resources,” Ashipala-Musavyi said.
She made the remarks during the Namibia–Russia Business Forum held in Windhoek alongside the 11th meeting of the Namibia–Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.
Ashipala-Musavyi said Namibia’s national development strategy prioritises economic diversification and industrialisation, with a focus on increasing the value derived from natural resources.
“Namibia remains firmly committed to economic transformation, industrialisation and sustainable development. Our national development agenda prioritises economic diversification through value addition to our natural resources and the development of competitive industries capable of integrating into regional and global value chains,” she said.
The forum highlighted opportunities for cooperation between Namibian and Russian businesses in sectors including mining, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics and digital technologies.
“Today’s forum will highlight investment opportunities and comparative advantages across several strategic sectors,” Ashipala-Musavyi said.
Government said business-to-business and business-to-government engagements during the forum are intended to help companies from both countries identify investment opportunities and explore potential joint ventures.
The discussions come as Namibia and Russia strengthen cooperation in the mining sector, particularly in uranium development, following recent high-level engagements and planned investments by Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom.
Talks held in Moscow in January 2026 identified uranium extraction, mining technology and mineral processing as key areas of collaboration. During the discussions, Ashipala-Musavyi also engaged with Rosatom officials on advancing an intergovernmental nuclear agreement linked to joint uranium projects.
Rosatom’s subsidiary, Headspring Investments, is currently pursuing a uranium project in Namibia’s Omaheke Region.
The development is expected to utilise In-Situ Recovery technology, an underground extraction method that dissolves uranium deposits without large-scale surface excavation, reducing environmental impact while improving operational efficiency.
