Namibia Minute.
Friday, 21 August 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Friday, 21 August 2026
OkaLexTranslate English into Oshikwanyama, Oshindonga, Rukwangali and OtjihereroMachine translation.Open the translator →
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Namibian press · Event

Environmental Management Act

2026-01-192026-08-21

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. February 2026
  2. New Era

    Forestry and Tourism on 5 March 2025 followed the full process of undertaking a comprehensive and detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), including all required specialist studies, in full compliance with the requirements and provisions of the Environmental Management Act

    Namwaste facility starts operations …Namibia’s first fully compliant hazardous waste management
  3. The Namibian

    The revised Environmental Management Act now includes legal measures to protect ecosystems such as natural springs and habitats that were previously unprotected.

    Revised act casts wider conservation net
  4. January 2026
  5. New Era

    She said that these activities are being undertaken without the required Environmental Clearance Certificates (ECCs) issued by the Office of the Environmental Commissioner (OEC), as stipulated under the Environmental Management Act.

    Stop illegal sand, gravel mining – Ministry
Agriculture & Land

Illegal sand mining continues across Namibia despite environmental laws

The News

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism says illegal sand and gravel mining persists across the country, posing dangers to the environment, people and livestock. The ministry notes that such commercial extraction requires an environmental impact assessment and clearance certificate, and that illegal sites are particularly prevalent in north-central regions.

16 hours ago · The Namibian

Yesterday

  1. Illegal sand mining continues across Namibia despite environmental laws

    The Ministry of Environment and Tourism says illegal sand and gravel mining persists across the country, posing dangers to the environment, people and livestock. The ministry notes that such commercial extraction requires an environmental impact assessment and clearance certificate, and that illegal sites are particularly prevalent in north-central regions.

    16 hours ago · The Namibian

  2. Ombudsman's Baynes hydropower report delayed by administrative error

    The ombudsman's office confirmed it failed to send a report on its inquiry into the proposed Baynes hydropower project to the project's implementation unit due to an administrative oversight, and delivered it on 17 August 2026. The inquiry found no environmental clearance certificate exists for the project, consultations did not satisfy the Environmental Management Act, and communities in Epupa are divided over the development.

    20 August 2026 · Namibian Sun

Thursday 13 August

  1. Fishing group challenges phosphate mining environmental clearance

    The Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations has filed a formal appeal challenging the environmental commissioner's grant of an environmental clearance certificate to Namibia Marine Phosphate, arguing the company's mining licence expired years ago and the commissioner lacked authority to issue the certificate under the Environmental Management Act.

    13 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  2. Baynes dam project lacks required environmental clearance

    The Office of the Ombudsman found that consultations for the proposed 860-megawatt Baynes hydropower dam do not satisfy requirements under the Environmental Management Act.

    13 August 2026 · Namibian Sun

Monday 6 July

  1. Windhoek launches plan to formalise informal settlements

    The City of Windhoek has submitted five Environmental Clearance Certificate applications to begin formalising informal settlements, with the first phase expected to create about 3,587 residential erven across five planning areas. The initiative could ultimately create more than 11,000 residential erven and provide secure land tenure and municipal infrastructure to residents currently living without them.

    6 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Wednesday 3 June

  1. Namibia pursues green hydrogen projects despite legal framework gaps

    The National Planning Commission director general said Namibia is ready to move from planning to implementation of green hydrogen projects, despite the absence of dedicated legislation. The government aims to create 30,000 green jobs by 2030 and position Namibia as a low-carbon industry platform for southern Africa.

    3 June 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Osino Gold seeks environmental clearance for Khan River sand dam

    Osino Gold Exploration and Mining is applying for an Environmental Clearance Certificate to build a sand storage dam with a capacity of approximately 125,000 cubic metres on the Khan River's Spes Bona Compartment in the Erongo Region, in collaboration with Namibia Water Corporation, to supply water for its Twin Hills Gold Project near Karibib.

    3 June 2026 · Informanté

Thursday 9 April

  1. Walvis Bay dumpsite becomes informal settlement amid health risks

    A controlled landfill in Walvis Bay has transformed into an informal settlement housing over 100 shacks and more than 300 people, with residents reporting illegal tyre burning, undercover prostitution, domestic violence, and drug activity. The situation raises serious environmental and health concerns for surrounding communities, prompting authorities to engage stakeholders on de-proclaiming the portion within Dorob National Park to enable better municipal management.

    9 April 2026 · New Era

Saturday 14 March

  1. Windhoek plans over 11,000 erven to formalise informal settlements

    The City of Windhoek plans to formalise informal settlements by creating approximately 11,226 erven, with 3,587 in the first phase. The city is fast-tracking land-use planning, completing environmental assessments, and launching an electrification project to expand basic services in informal areas within one to two months.

    14 March 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 12 March

  1. LPM questions green hydrogen project as political vote-winning tool

    An LPM parliamentarian has criticized the green hydrogen project as a political campaign tool rather than a genuine development plan, citing the lack of a dedicated legislative framework. The government's press secretary defended the project as part of Namibia's development vision alongside oil and gas initiatives, while the minister acknowledged no standalone green hydrogen act exists but said the sector is governed by existing environmental and energy legislation.

    12 March 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 19 February

  1. Namibia opens first fully compliant hazardous waste facility

    The Namwaste Management Facility near Arandis has begun operations as Namibia's first fully compliant general and hazardous waste management site, serving the industrial, mining and emerging oil and gas sectors. The N$200 million facility, covering 177 hectares, will collect a minimum of 60,000 tonnes of waste annually and create approximately 40 permanent jobs.

    19 February 2026 · New Era

Saturday 7 February

  1. Revised Environmental Act expands ecosystem protection measures

    Namibia's amended Environmental Management Act will extend legal protections to ecosystems like natural springs and habitats previously unprotected, and set standards for noise, smell, water and air quality. The ministry is consulting on proposed sand and gravel mining regulations and has flagged unprecedented illegal sand mining as a major environmental concern, attributing it to weak management, corruption, and insufficient enforcement.

    7 February 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 19 January

  1. Environment ministry calls for end to illegal sand and gravel mining

    Environment Minister Indileni Daniel has urged an end to illegal sand and gravel mining across Namibia, noting that such activities lack required Environmental Clearance Certificates and pose serious risks including land degradation, riverbank erosion, and threats to water and food security. The ministry plans regional stakeholder engagements on new Sand and Gravel Mining Regulations to balance development with environmental protection.

    19 January 2026 · New Era

Environmental Management Act — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute