Namibia courts Finnish companies to invest in clean energy

Namibian ambassador to Finland Charles Josob says he has engaged private companies in Finland to invest in the generation of clean energy.

The ambassador says Namibia wants initiatives that would contribute to the fight against climate change in the country, and Finland is the European leader in energy transition and has embraced the circular economy concept.

Josob told The Namibian at the embassy office in Helsinki on Thursday that Finland is doing a good job in the use of clean energy as it has embraced the circular economy concept and if they invest in the clean energy sector in Namibia, it could help the country acquire expertise needed and accelerate its efforts towards energy transition.

He said his offices has not only made an effort to lure Finland to invest in clean energy at the business level but also at the policy level.

“As we speak now, there are 11 to 12 companies in Namibia exploring opportunities to invest in the energy sector,” said Josob.

He said there are some Finnish companies that have shown interest in investing in the rare earth materials in Namibia because it is from these materials that batteries are made. The embassy has, therefore, made efforts in helping these companies get in touch with Namibia’s Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy.

Josob said Namibian companies which deals with renewables, such as Rent-A-Drum, has already engaged with Finnish companies wanting to invest in the clean energy sector. As part of their climate act, Finland has come up with a number of initiatives aimed at addressing climate change and for the country to be carbon neutral by 2029.

According to the Global Forum of Cities for Circular Economy, more than a third of the world’s population is overwhelmed by waste and the issue is acute in developing countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, known as the Global South.

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