Namibia Minute.
Tuesday, 6 October 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Tuesday, 6 October 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Debmarine

Also known as: Debmarine Namibia

Debmarine Namibia — diamond and marine mining operator; financially supports Namibia's netball team for 2027 World Cup qualification.

2020-12-182026-10-06

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. October 2026
  2. The Namibian

    Debmarine operates the only diamond dredging operation of its kind globally

    Source

    “to this day, the Debmarine operation off our coastline is the only one of its kind globally.”

    Clarity on Marine Phosphate Mining, Namibia’s Misunderstood Project
  3. September 2026
  4. The Namibian

    Debmarine Namibia enabled Desert Jewels to qualify for 2027 Netball World Cup and strengthen grassroots development

    Source

    “Debmarine Namibia's financial backing has enabled the Desert Jewels to qualify for the 2027 Netball World Cup and strengthen grassroots development nationwide.”

    Debmarine Namibia praised for netball lifeline
  5. The Namibian

    Debmarine Namibia is the principal supporter of the national team

    Source

    “Netball Namibia also thanks Debmarine Namibia, the principal supporter of the national team, MTC Namibia, the official sponsor of the Namibia Premier League, and the government and Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture for choosing Netball Namibia as the first national federation to take part in the Sport Professionalisation Project.”

    Desert Jewels sparkle in global spotlight
  6. August 2026
  7. The Namibian

    Debmarine Namibia has impacted only 4% of mining area

    Source

    “He says thus far, their mining activities have only impacted 4% of the area in which they are mining, adding that sediments taken from the ocean are put back onto the ocean floor so that mined areas are rehabilitated.”

    Call for more research on what oceans hold for humanity
  8. July 2026
  9. Windhoek Observer

    Debmarine Namibia experienced planned maintenance work on Mafuta vessel

    Source

    “The mining group said production in Namibia was supported by the planned mining of higher-grade areas at Namdeb, which largely compensated for the retirement of the Coral Sea vessel in the comparative period and planned maintenance work on Debmarine Namibia's Mafuta vessel.”

    Diamond production stood at 531 000 carats during Q2
  10. Windhoek Observer

    Debmarine Namibia conducts offshore diamond mining

    Source

    “The operations include Namdeb, which recovers land-based diamonds, and Debmarine Namibia, which conducts offshore diamond mining.”

    Namibia earned N$7.11 billion from Anglo American in 2025
  11. June 2026
  12. Windhoek Observer

    Debmarine Namibia produced 1,435,000 carats in 2025

    Source

    “Debmarine Namibia produced 1,435,000 carats in 2025.”

    De Beers doubles down on natural diamonds with new campaign
  13. May 2026
  14. The Namibian

    Debmarine Namibia experienced retrenchments and voluntary separations

    Source

    “Botshiwe said total direct employment by chamber members declined slightly to 20 798 employees, largely due to retrenchments and voluntary separations at the Sinomine Tsumeb Smelter and Debmarine Namibia.”

    Mining contributes N$7.8b to Govt coffers
  15. The Namibian

    Debmarine Namibia secured revenue from diamonds through strategic partnerships maintaining state participation

    Source

    “Through partnerships such as Namdeb and Debmarine Namibia, Namibia has maintained strong state participation and secured significant revenue from diamonds.”

    How Namibia Can Get Its Resource Wealth Right
  16. March 2026
  17. New Era

    Debmarine departed as NHRA sponsor

    Source

    “Currently, Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) is the only NHRA sponsor following the departures of FNB Namibia, Standard Bank Namibia, and Debmarine, which previously invested in the sport.”

    Sponsorship drought at horse racing sport – Mootu
Mining & Energy

IPC shadow minister demands parliament briefing on De Beers sale

The News

IPC shadow minister Rodney Cloete is demanding that the government explain Namibia's position on the proposed sale of De Beers, citing Botswana's parliament being informed while Namibia's has not been. Cloete questions whether Namibia was approached to join the Global Diamond Consortium bidding for Anglo American's 85% stake, and seeks clarity on the diamond sales agreement with De Beers that expired in May.

9 hours ago · The Namibian →

Yesterday

  1. IPC shadow minister demands parliament briefing on De Beers sale

    IPC shadow minister Rodney Cloete is demanding that the government explain Namibia's position on the proposed sale of De Beers, citing Botswana's parliament being informed while Namibia's has not been. Cloete questions whether Namibia was approached to join the Global Diamond Consortium bidding for Anglo American's 85% stake, and seeks clarity on the diamond sales agreement with De Beers that expired in May.

    9 hours ago · The Namibian →

Sunday 4 October

  1. Marine phosphate mining differs from New Zealand case, author contends

    A letter-writer argues that Namibia's proposed marine phosphate mining project, supported by 37 independent scientists and subject to environmental safeguards, differs fundamentally from a rejected New Zealand proposal because Namibia's offshore ecosystem is sandy rather than hard rock, and the Benguela Current prevents coral growth in local waters.

    4 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 1 October

  1. Namdeb discovers largest Namibian diamond in 20 years

    Namdeb discovered a 176.29-carat diamond named "Owishi" at its Southern Coastal Mine in Oranjemund in May, which President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah unveiled at a ceremony in Windhoek. According to diamond industry estimates, the rough diamond could fetch between US$5 million and over US$25 million at current market prices.

    1 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 29 September

  1. Desert Jewels qualify for 2027 Netball World Cup

    Debmarine Namibia's financial support has enabled Namibia's netball team, the Desert Jewels, to qualify for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney and strengthen grassroots development. Netball Namibia president Juanita Witbeen credits the sponsorship as critical to international performance and says the qualification will inspire the next generation of players.

    29 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 28 September

  1. Namibia qualifies for 2025 Netball World Cup in Sydney

    Namibia's Desert Jewels netball team qualified for next year's Netball World Cup in Sydney after finishing fourth at the Africa Cup in Nairobi. The team clinched their spot after reaching the semi-finals, marking their third World Cup appearance and first in 31 years since 1991 and 1995.

    28 September 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Skeleton Basin appoints Mertens as board chairman

    Skeleton Basin Investments Limited has appointed three independent non-executive directors, including Debmarine Namibia chief executive officer Willy Mertens as chairman of the board, effective 25 September 2026.

    28 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 20 August

  1. Marine consultant backs call for expanded ocean research

    A marine biodiversity consultant supports a Ministry of Agriculture official's view that more research is needed to understand ocean resources, noting that while some work has been done in Namibia on sensitive ocean areas, recommendations have not been followed up. A ministry director cited that only 10% of the ocean has been explored, and highlighted the growing ocean-based economy, including marine transport, tourism, fisheries, and renewable energy, alongside challenges such as plastic waste, illegal fishing, and climate change.

    20 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 3 August

  1. Charene Labuschagne crowned Miss Namibia 2026

    Charene Labuschagne was crowned Miss Namibia 2026 at a ceremony at Die Dam Resort on Saturday evening after competing against nine other finalists. Rachelle Hamases was named first runner-up and Albertina Haimbala second runner-up; Labuschagne received prizes including a house, luxury vehicle, and cash.

    3 August 2026 · New Era →

Friday 31 July

  1. De Beers sale advances as Anglo American cuts costs amid diamond weakness

    Anglo American is advancing its sale process for De Beers while implementing cost-cutting measures in response to weak global diamond market conditions. MoneyWeb reports discussions on a deal valued at about US$1 billion, a steep decline from the company's earlier carrying value of US$2.3 billion after three impairments in three years.

    31 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 24 July

  1. Namibia's Q2 diamond production reaches 531,000 carats

    Namibia's rough diamond production remained stable at 531,000 carats in the second quarter, as higher-grade mining at Namdeb offset operational disruptions at Debmarine Namibia, according to Anglo American's production report.

    24 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 23 July

  1. Mayor urges youth to prepare for oil, gas, green hydrogen sectors

    At the 2026 Erongo Regional Career Fair in Walvis Bay, Mayor Johannes Shimbilinga called for collective action to prepare young people for emerging industries, particularly oil and gas and green hydrogen, emphasizing the importance of STEM subjects and technical skills.

    23 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 22 July

  1. Equipment shortage constrains Namibia's emerging rice farming sector

    Rice farmers in Namibia cite shortages of machinery, irrigation equipment, fencing, and market access as barriers to scaling production. Manual planting, harvesting, and threshing operations, plus livestock damage to unfenced gardens, remain key challenges.

    22 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 1 July

  1. Anglo American's Namibia contribution falls 21% to N$7.11bn

    Anglo American PLC reported that its total tax and economic contribution in Namibia fell 21% to US$432 million (N$7.11 billion) in 2025, compared with US$545 million (N$8.97 billion) in 2024, with declines across wages, procurement, capital expenditure, and tax contributions.

    1 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 19 June

  1. De Beers CEO: diamond sale could conclude within weeks

    De Beers CEO Al Cook says the company's sale could be completed within weeks, with governments including Namibia, Botswana and Angola, and industry investors expressing interest in acquiring stakes. Cook envisions the company's future as a public-private partnership combining governments and private investors.

    19 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 11 June

  1. Namibia considers up to N$3bn stake in diamond firm De Beers

    The government is considering spending up to N$3 billion to buy a stake in De Beers, reportedly partnering with Angola and Botswana, which already hold 15% of the diamond company. The deal follows Anglo American's decision to exit De Beers and sell its 85% stake, with De Beers' valuation dropping significantly from N$65.7 billion to N$6.9 billion.

    11 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 5 June

  1. De Beers launches Desert Diamonds campaign to promote natural diamonds

    De Beers Group has intensified efforts to boost demand for natural diamonds through a new phase of its global 'Desert Diamonds' marketing campaign, aiming to distinguish natural stones from synthetic alternatives and capitalize on growing consumer interest. Namibia produced 556,000 carats in the first quarter ending 31 March 2026, and diamonds remain critical to the country's economy.

    5 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 26 May

  1. Mining sector paid N$7.8b in taxes in 2025

    Namibia's mining sector paid N$7.8 billion in taxes to government in 2025, a 39% increase from N$5.6 billion in 2024, driven largely by corporate income tax from gold mining operations. Royalties rose 9% to N$2.5 billion and export levies increased 90% to N$685 million, while the mining sector's real value added contracted 9.4%.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 12 May

  1. Natural resources create choices, not automatic prosperity

    The Namibian publishes an opinion piece arguing that as Namibia approaches major oil and gas production, history—including Iran's experience and Namibia's own resource management of fisheries, diamonds, and uranium—shows that natural resources must be strategically managed to avoid pitfalls like price dependency, reduced transparency, and lagging non-energy growth.

    12 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 9 May

  1. Fabian Shaanika appointed Chamber of Mines CEO from May 2026

    The Chamber of Mines of Namibia has appointed geologist and investment banking professional Fabian Shaanika as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 May 2026, succeeding retired CEO Veston Malango who led the organization for two decades. Shaanika brings nearly 20 years of mining sector experience across exploration, project development, financing, and production, including recent roles at Kelp Blue and senior positions at Rand Merchant Bank and Standard Bank Namibia.

    9 May 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 6 May

  1. Shaanika appointed Chamber of Mines CEO from May 2026

    Fabian Shaanika, former managing director of Kelp Blue, has been appointed chief executive officer of the Chamber of Mines of Namibia, effective 1 May 2026. He brings experience from mining and resources roles at Namdeb, Vedanta's Skorpion Zinc Mine, Debmarine Namibia, and Rand Merchant Bank Namibia.

    6 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  2. Chamber of Mines appoints Fabian Shaanika as chief executive

    The Chamber of Mines of Namibia has appointed Fabian Shaanika, formerly managing director of kelp farming company Kelp Blue, as its new chief executive effective 1 May. Shaanika, a registered geologist with MBA and experience at Rand Merchant Bank, Standard Bank, Namdeb, Skorpion Zinc Mine and Debmarine Namibia, replaces Veston Malango, who retires after 20 years leading the chamber.

    6 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 19 April

  1. Fabian Shaanika appointed to Kudu Chemicals board

    Green Metals Refining has appointed seasoned mining and banking executive Fabian Shaanika to the board of its Namibian subsidiary Kudu Chemicals, which is developing a sulphuric acid plant at Walvis Bay for battery-grade manganese chemical production.

    19 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 30 March

  1. Horse racing sport faces sponsorship crisis in Namibia

    The president of Namibia Horse Racing Association says the future of horse racing is bleak without increased sponsorship, with only MTC currently backing the sport after FNB Namibia, Standard Bank Namibia, and Debmarine withdrew. The association faces challenges including high costs of maintaining racehorses, insufficient competition prize money, lack of technical equipment like drones for photo finishes, and limited geographic expansion beyond Omaheke, Khomas, Otjozondjupa, and Hardap regions.

    30 March 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 11 March

  1. Debmarine promotes natural diamonds amid synthetic competition

    Debmarine Namibia is pursuing brand-building and consumer education to protect the natural diamond industry as synthetic diamonds devalue the market and reduce consumer appetite. The strategy comes as De Beers' valuation has plummeted from US$4.1 billion to US$2.3 billion, potentially affecting Namibia's funding for schools, hospitals, roads and social programmes.

    11 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 8 March

  1. Women in Namibian mining: progress visible, barriers remain

    Women represent only 15–19% of the global mining workforce despite centuries of participation in the sector. In Namibia, progress is accelerating with more women in STEM fields, technical roles, and leadership positions, though sustained commitment to inclusion remains necessary.

    8 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 25 February

  1. Synthetic diamonds threaten Namibia's government revenue, experts warn

    Anglo American's sharp devaluation of De Beers to US$2.3 billion reflects the diamond industry's struggles amid competition from lab-grown diamonds, which threatens Namibia's fiscal health since diamonds fund schools, hospitals and roads. Experts debate whether Namibia should invest in the sector as Anglo American seeks buyers, with some warning the industry faces long-term decline.

    25 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 20 February

  1. Gobabis to host Miss Namibia and Miss Teen pageants

    The NBC has decided to bring the Miss Namibia and Miss Teen 2026 pageants to Gobabis, completing hosting of the event across all four corners of Namibia. The move is expected to boost local tourism and regional economy through increased visitor numbers and media coverage, while promoting youth empowerment and regional inclusivity.

    20 February 2026 · New Era →

Saturday 7 February

  1. Miss Namibia 2026 applications closed, competition enters selection phase

    The Miss Namibia Organisation has closed applications for 2026 competitions and completed candidate screening. The pageant continues to position itself as a platform for leadership and social impact, with winners and finalists involved in charity work, mentorship, and national development initiatives.

    7 February 2026 · New Era →

Debmarine — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute