Statement by Gaudentia Kröhne, deputy minister of industries, mines and energy at Namibia showcase session at Africa Mining Indaba 2026

Cape Town, South Africa, 11 February 2026

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Good afternoon,

It is wonderful to see so many partners, investors and industry leaders gathered at the Namibia country showcase on the margins of the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba 2026, united by a shared interest in Africa’s future. 

I speak to you today with a message of partnership and optimism: Partnering for Value: Namibia’s Path from Resources to Sustainable Industrial Growth.

Namibia comes to this indaba with a clear anchor message: Namibia is an attractive, investor-ready destination for mining, grounded in policy certainty, regulatory stability and a strong commitment to sustainability. This is the foundation on which we build long-term, trusted and mutually beneficial partnerships.

Namibia offers a stable, predictable and resource-rich mining jurisdiction, well aligned with the rapidly growing global demand for critical and strategic minerals. Mining remains a cornerstone of our economy, driving growth, employment, exports and industrial development. Our mineral endowment includes uranium, diamonds, gold, rare earth elements, copper, graphite, manganese, zinc, lead and lithium, as well as dimension stones such as sodalite, marble and granites, and a range of gemstones including tourmaline.

These are not simply minerals beneath our soil. These are the minerals shaping the future of the global economy and enabling the world’s energy transition.

Within this diverse portfolio, Namibia holds a particularly strategic position as the world’s third-largest producer of uranium. As countries seek reliable, low-carbon baseload power, uranium remains central to global energy security. Namibia is therefore not only a supplier of uranium, we are a strategic partner in the global energy transition.

For Namibia, uranium is not only an export commodity. It forms part of a broader national energy vision, with clear intent to utilise nuclear energy as part of our future energy mix. Uranium complements our offshore oil and gas discoveries, our vast renewable energy potential and our ambitious green hydrogen programme.

Together, these resources position Namibia as an integrated energy and industrial hub, capable of supporting mineral beneficiation, manufacturing and long-term energy security, not only for Namibia, but for the region and the world.

This vision is underpinned by policy certainty and institutional credibility. Namibia has built strong institutions, upheld the rule of law and maintained a transparent legal framework that protects investors and promotes responsible development. International benchmarks consistently place Namibia among Africa’s most attractive mining investment destinations.

Namibia’s strong economic foundation is reinforced by its extensive network of regional and international trade agreements, including the African Continental Free Trade Area and Southern African Customs Union, which shape trade policies and enhance market access. Investors value predictability – and Namibia delivers it.

This confidence is reflected in the long-standing presence of global mining leaders. These partnerships reflect trust, stability and Namibia’s proven ability to deliver.

Namibia is open for business – not only for extraction, but for partnership across the entire mining value chain. We are positioning both large-scale investors and small-scale miners within an integrated pipeline for sustainable growth. From exploration and mine development to processing, beneficiation and downstream industries, Namibia welcomes partners at every stage. Beneficiation is not an aspiration, it is a national policy direction.

Inclusivity is central to our mining future. Artisanal and small-scale mining plays an important role in this journey. In Namibia, artisanal and small-scale mining ranges from informal individual miners earning a subsistence livelihood to more organised and regulated operations that can contribute meaningfully to local economies and global mineral supply. We are fully committed to engaging and partnering with this sector.

The government of the Republic of Namibia is committed to formalising and supporting artisanal and small-scale mining in a responsible manner, improving livelihoods while strengthening safety, environmental management and compliance. We call upon development partners to work with Namibia in building a comprehensive artisanal and small-scale mining framework that supports formalisation, access to finance, skills development, environmental responsibility and market access.

Well-supported artisanal and small-scale mining is an opportunity for poverty reduction, youth and women empowerment and inclusive growth, and a practical entry point for development cooperation with high social impact.

These ambitions are already being realised through investment-ready projects with many operators. B2Gold’s Otjikoto Mine continues to perform strongly. The Twin Hills Gold Project is advancing as Namibia’s third major gold mine. The reopening of the Langer Heinrich uranium mine signals renewed confidence in Namibia’s uranium sector. The Swakop Uranium–NamWater desalination partnership secures water for mining and communities, while the Rössing Uranium and Rosh Pinah Zinc Mine expansions strengthen Namibia’s uranium and base metals position.

These are real projects delivering real outcomes. I encourage our Namibian teams to explore further opportunities across the value chain.

Namibia also recognises that investment success depends on efficient, responsive institutions. The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board provides a single, coordinated interface to support investors from entry through expansion. Our approach is clear: the government must enable investment, not complicate it.

Mining and industrial development also depend on logistics and market access. Namibia is home to Walvis Bay, a premier logistics hub for the Southern African Development Community region. Walvis Bay provides landlocked countries such as Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe and Botswana with faster, secure and cost-effective access to global markets.

Through the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, Namibia connects key regional corridors, including the Trans-Kalahari and Trans-Caprivi corridors, offering direct access to the Atlantic Ocean, reducing cargo transit times by days and supporting heavy mineral logistics and bulk exports. This logistics advantage strengthens mineral beneficiation, regional value chains and inclusive industrialisation.

We also recognise that the global mining sector is operating in a challenging environment. Market volatility, geopolitical tensions, trade conflicts and shifts in global demand, including recent pressures in the diamond sector, affect all of us. Namibia does not view these challenges as setbacks. We see them as opportunities to diversify, innovate and collaborate more closely with partners to build resilience and long-term value.

Sustainability remains central to Namibia’s mining future. We are strengthening environmental governance, promoting renewable energy in mining, investing in water security and empowering women and youth through skills development and enterprise participation. Sustainable mining must be inclusive mining.

Namibia stands at the threshold of a new phase where resources fuel industrial growth, energy security and shared prosperity. We have the vision, the policy framework and the political will. What we seek now is partnership.

Namibia’s story is not only about policy, it is about real opportunities already taking shape. The next presentations will take you deeper into Namibia’s legislation and investment landscape, and demonstrate how this vision translates into concrete, investable opportunities.

I now invite you to engage with our delegation, explore Namibia firsthand and continue this conversation as we partner for value. It is our pleasure to welcome you.

I thank you.

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