STAFF WRITER
Namibia has invited China to invest in its clean energy, oil and mineral sectors as President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah begins a week-long state visit aimed at strengthening 35 years of diplomatic ties.
Speaking at the Namibia–China Business Forum in Shanghai on Monday, Minister of International Relations and Trade Selma Ashipala-Msavyi said Namibia is positioning itself as a leader in green hydrogen and renewable energy.
“The world is looking for green hydrogen, and Namibia is looking at the sun. We have the highest levels of solar radiation and some of the strongest winds on the planet,” she said.
She said Namibia’s flagship Tsau //Khaeb Green Hydrogen Project is already attracting major investment.
“Our flagship Tsau //Khaeb Green Hydrogen Project is not a pipe dream; it is a reality that is attracting billions of dollars in investment,” she said.
Ashipala-Msavyi said Namibia wants to move beyond raw energy exports and develop new industries.
“We aim to not just export energy, we are planning and developing to export a new paradigm of clean manufacturing, including green ammonia, sustainable aviation fuel, and green steel,” she said.
She also pointed to recent offshore oil and gas discoveries in the Orange Basin.
“Furthermore, recent offshore oil and gas discoveries in the Orange Basin have positioned Namibia as the next frontier for hydrocarbon exploration,” she said.
She invited Chinese companies to take part in the sector.
“We invite Chinese energy majors and service companies to join us in this journey,” she said.
According to her, Namibia is well placed in a changing global economy.
“I submit to you that Namibia is not only safe and strategic, but also a friendly and profitable location for your investments,” she said.
She described the country as a logistics and energy hub with stable governance.
“We are not just a country; we are a logistical spine. We are an energy hub. We are a mineral resource hub,” she said.
She added that Namibia offers access to a wider regional market through the Port of Walvis Bay.
“When you invest in Namibia, you are not investing in a market of over 3 million people. You are investing in a market of over 300 million consumers across the SADC region,” she said.
She said Namibia also holds key mineral resources needed for global industries.
“We are moving beyond the ‘extract and ship’ model. We invite our Chinese partners to establish beneficiation and processing plants at the source,” she said.
“Let us process our lithium into battery precursors. Let us smelt our copper into wire. Let us create value where the ore is mined,” she said.
She added that Namibia has simplified its investment environment.
“We do not have exchange controls that restrict the repatriation of profits,” she said. “We have moved away from red tape and established a one-stop shop for most administrative steps.”
She also highlighted regional infrastructure plans.
“We are currently developing the Kavango-Zambezi Transboundary Corridor,” she said. “We invite Chinese infrastructure firms to partner with us in building roads, bridges, and power interconnectors that enhance sub-regional economic integration.”
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