Otjozondjupa governor John ||Khamuseb has urged the government to secure a 51% controlling stake in Namibia’s oil resources to avoid past ownership mistakes, such as the “10% mistake” at Rössing Uranium.
He says Namibia must secure a controlling stake in its petroleum resources, arguing that a proposed 15% share is not enough.
“We are not going to repeat the 10% for Rössing once again. So, help our president for better renegotiations on oil.
Our trillions of oil will put us out of poverty. We must have a controlling share of 51% in our oil,” he says.
||Khamuseb was speaking at the third National Council and Regional Councils Consultative Conference in the Otjozondjupa region, which will run until Friday.
He said the country’s petroleum resources should be treated as a national asset, with investors allowed to retain a minority share.
“A 15% share in oil is not enough. The oil is ours,” he said.
||Khamuseb called on the National Council to approve the petroleum bill, while urging policymakers to strengthen provisions on state participation and ownership.
He said Namibia should use the opportunity to develop a clear blueprint that ensures the government secures controlling interests in strategic natural resources, with investors potentially holding up to 40%.
He further called for reforms to land acquisition and mineral exploration, including ceilings on willing-seller, willing-buyer transactions and a review of exclusive prospecting licences (EPLs).
Namibians, he said, should retain a permanent 30% to 40% stake in companies exploring the country’s minerals, arguing that some EPLs are being sold for very little.
He said successful national development required all stakeholders to work together, with stronger information sharing between national, regional and local structures.
The conference should produce practical solutions that can be implemented in the regions and translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives, ||Khamuseb said.
Otjozondjupa Regional Council chairperson Paulus Nekundi at the event said the consultations provided an opportunity to address “bread-and-butter” issues affecting communities, with service delivery remaining central.
He said decentralisation would only work if resources were transferred alongside functions.
“Once services are decentralised, resources must be decentralised if we want to address infrastructure development and job creation,” Nekundi said.
He said mineral ownership should remain central to discussions, arguing that Namibia’s resources should not be viewed only through the jobs they create.
Nekundi said the cost of democracy can prevent some stakeholders from participating in public hearings because of financial constraints.
He said the needs of the majority should remain at the centre of national decision-making rather than the interests of individuals.
