By: Staff writer

Namibia, through the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MoME), is being represented at the 2023 Africa Energy Indaba taking place in-person in Cape Town, South Africa.

The event is taking place from 7 – 9 March 2023 and brings together industry leaders, investors and government representatives to discuss the future of Africa’s energy sector.

The conference, which will be held under the theme “Africa Energy Transitioning to a Sustainable and Prosperous Future,” will bring together industry experts, project developers, financiers, energy users, government officials, and manufacturers to discuss, debate and seek solutions to enable adequate energy generation across the continent.

The MoME, as well as the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board will host the ‘Invest in Namibia Roundtable’, which will be an in-depth conversation about how Namibia is exploring and exploiting her comparative advantages across four key areas namely recent oil and gas discoveries, the green hydrogen value chain, world-class renewable energy resources and international carbon markets.

A roundtable discussion which will be moderated by the NIPDB’s Executive Director: Investments and New Ventures, François van Schalkwyk, will feature speakers like Carlo McLeod, Deputy Director: Compliance, Regulations and Economics in the Ministry of Mines and Energy; Benedict Libanda, CEO of the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia; and Pinehas Mutota, Acting CEO of the Electricity Control Board.

Other speakers are Frans Kalenga, Senior Manager: Sustainable Energies at NAMCOR; Kandali Iiyambo, Executive: Modified Single Buyer at Nampower; and Fabian Shaanika, Mining Sector Lead at Rand Merchant Bank Namibia.

“Namibia’s ambitions of becoming Africa’s sustainable energy capital is set to take centre stage at the Indaba,” said Catherine Shipushu, Senior Manager: Marketing, Communications and Branding at the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, in a statement.

Shipushu said Namibia’s recent energy developments, including the significant discoveries in oil and gas have attracted the attention of the global energy community, making it a potential exploration hotspot.

In addition, she said, great strides have been made in the renewable energy space with several large-scale projects currently in operation or under construction.

“Access to modern, reliable and affordable energy is critical for economic growth. As the demand for sustainable energy intensifies, Namibia is well-positioned to leverage her unparalleled capacity to produce green hydrogen and emerge as a key player in the African and global energy market,” she expanded.

Shipushu said the Namibian delegation is headed to the energy indaba with clear objectives of showcasing the recent developments in the country’s energy sector, to present the country’s value proposition as a premier investment destination and reiterate Namibia’s bold ambitions of becoming the sustainable energy capital of Africa.

The delegation is composed of senior leaders representing the public and private sector, who will contribute to the energy conversation on various panels and forums during the three-day Indaba, she concluded.

Strategic partnerships with the Host government department, the South African Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and the African Union Development Agency as well as many leading African energy industry associations, ensure the event is backed by leading energy drivers.

The symposium provides invaluable business growth opportunities for the continent’s energy realm, subsequently inspiring much-needed transformation within the sector.