Namibia Postpones Critical Port Upgrade Amid Oil Boom Preparations
Namibia’s port authority has postponed plans to upgrade the southern harbor in Lüderitz, a key infrastructure project vital for supporting the country’s fast-emerging oil and gas industry. The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) had invited proposals for a concession to establish an oil and gas supply base but put the process on hold after the advertisement raised concerns among stakeholders.
Namport CEO Andrew Kanime noted that the tender would be reissued at a later date, acknowledging that the setback will impact project timelines. Namibia has become one of Africa’s most closely watched energy frontiers following major offshore discoveries by TotalEnergies and Shell in 2022, with estimates suggesting the country may hold up to 2.6 billion barrels of reserves.
Lüderitz is considered strategically important as it lies less than half the distance to offshore discoveries compared to Walvis Bay, the country’s main port. The project requires both environmental clearances and heritage impact assessments due to the area’s historical significance as the site of a former German colonial concentration camp.
Although Namibia has yet to produce oil, forecasts indicate commercial output could begin by 2030, making upgraded port infrastructure essential for transporting equipment and supporting offshore operations.
Sources: angolanminingoilandgas.com, Bloomberg
