The Namibian Ports Authority (NAMPORT) says its first phase of a N$4-billion investment in the Port of Lüderitz’s Robert Harbour expansion aims to create a vital oil and gas supply base for the country’s deepwater fields.
The first phase of the expansion will include constructing a 500-metre quay wall at a depth of 9 metres and reclaiming 14 hectares of land.
NAMPORT Executive of Port Engineering Elzevir Gelderbloem said the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is underway and expected to be completed by early 2025.
“The Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) is also in progress, and a geotechnical investigation will be conducted within the next six months. The EPC tender is anticipated by mid-2025, with the first section of the new quay wall to be commissioned by mid-2027 and the final section by the end of 2028,” he said.
NAMPORT’s short-term plan includes utilising the Port of Walvis Bay South Port as a temporary solution for oil and gas supply during the exploration and appraisal phases in the Orange Basin.
“The South Port three berths (7, 8 and 9) with an 11-metre depth and heavy lift capacity will suffice for up to five years, covering the exploration phase and the initial one or two years of the development phase,” he said.
This comes as 3 liquid mud plants (LMP) and bulk plants are being erected in Walvis Bay now, and 3 bulk cement plants are going up in Lüderitz as well.
Meanwhile, NAMPORT’s phased approach to expanding Robert Harbour includes further land reclamation and berth construction in Phase 2, which will add 18 hectares and extend the berth lengths by 1,100 metres.
“This includes a 300-metre quay wall at a depth of 10 metres, 400 metres at 11 metres, 250 metres at 11 metres, and 150 metres at 11 metres,” he said.
Furthermore, phase 3 will focus on the removal of old jetties, reclaiming an additional 3 hectares of land, and adding 370 metres of berth length, with quay walls at depths of 6, 7, and 7 metres respectively.
Gelderbloem said NAMPORT’s business model for the expanded Port of Luderitz includes dedicating newly reclaimed land to oil and gas operations, with a single operator managing the supply base.
“This operator will be selected through an open public tender with a 10- to 15-year concession. The operator’s duties will include managing both the Lüderitz and Walvis Bay bases under a model designed to ensure efficient operations and structured local content requirements,” he said.
Furthermore, he noted that NAMPORT’s comprehensive strategy ensures that both ports are equipped to meet the oil and gas industry’s needs in the short, medium, and long term.
“Once Phase 1 of the Lüderitz expansion is operational, Walvis Bay will serve as an overflow option for the Orange Basin fields,” he said.
He further noted that the town’s expansion and upgrading will take time but can proceed in parallel with the port’s development.
“The Robert Harbour port development alone will not ensure success in Lüderitz. The entire town will need to be expanded to twice its current size to accommodate the expected growth,” Gelderbloem said.
