Also known as: the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy · MIME · MME
Government ministry overseeing fuel pricing, mining sector development, and energy policy in Namibia, including fuel supply contracts and mining regulations.
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March 2026
Informanté
Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energysaid Namibia remains adequately supplied withboth diesel and petrol to meet national demand
Source
“In a statement, the Ministry said Namibia remains adequately supplied with both diesel and petrol to meet national demand in the short, medium, and long term.”
Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energyis undertakinga review of storage fees at the country's strategic fuel depot
Source
“The review is being undertaken by the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy in partnership with the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor).”
Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energyannouncedfuel pump prices would remain unchanged for March
Source
“The said shocks to the petroleum sector, which are expected to raise fuel prices, have, however, not yet hit Namibia as the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy announced that fuel pump prices would remain unchanged for March.”
Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energywill sign service level agreement withCenored to accelerate rural electrification
Source
“The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy will sign a service level agreement with the Central North Regional Electricity Distributor (Cenored) to accelerate rural electrification.”
Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energyis mandated toensure every litre of petrol and diesel imported, stored and sold in Namibia meets national quality standards
Source
“At the centre of monitoring and regulating Namibia's fuel security and fuel quality is the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, which is mandated to ensure every litre of petrol and diesel imported, stored and sold in the country meets national quality standards.”
Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energyis mandated to ensureevery litre of petrol and diesel imported, stored and sold in Namibia meets national quality standards
Source
“At the centre of the monitoring and regulatory system is the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy (MIME), mandated to ensure every litre of petrol and diesel imported, stored and sold in Namibia meets national quality standards.”
Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energyhas procured and installedaboveground storage tanks at police stations to provide safer interim fuel storage
Source
“Recognising the hazard, MIME has procured and installed aboveground storage tanks at police stations in affected regions to provide safer interim storage.”
Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energyis losing petroleum licensing authority tothe Presidency under petroleum amendment bill
Source
“The petroleum amendment bill, tabled in February 2026, transfers petroleum licensing authority from the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy to the Presidency.”
Twenty-eight trainees from all 14 regions of Namibia have begun a six-month gemstone cutting and polishing programme at the Karibib Gemstone Training Centre, a government initiative aimed at developing specialised skills and promoting value addition within the mining sector.
Twenty-eight trainees from all 14 regions of Namibia have begun a six-month gemstone cutting and polishing programme at the Karibib Gemstone Training Centre, a government initiative aimed at developing specialised skills and promoting value addition within the mining sector.
Nasan Energies, which acquired 52 service stations from Vivo Energy, is requiring fuel retailers to pay upfront for fuel rather than the traditional post-delivery payment model. Retailers claim Nasan lacks operational cash flow and is forcing prepaid contracts that differ from the original Vivo agreements.
The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy has awarded Vitol an exclusive fuel supply contract for July to September, saying the company's offer to supply fuel at standard price without extra charges or public subsidy distinguished it from other bidders, whose proposals included additional conditions.
The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy has directed all fuel companies in Namibia to source petrol and diesel exclusively from Vitol between July and September 2026, citing emergency arrangements and the supplier's willingness to waive financial guarantees. Industry sources report that Vitol fuel is often more expensive than competitors', and the appointment has drawn scrutiny over procurement transparency and Vitol's history of allegations regarding substandard fuel supply.
The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy announced an emergency fuel supply arrangement with international energy company Vitol covering July to September 2026, stating it protects consumers from further price increases driven by Middle East geopolitical tensions. The government has committed more than N$1 billion to cushion consumers from rising fuel costs and maintain economic stability.
The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy has decided to maintain petrol and diesel pump prices at current levels for June, with petrol at N$23.48 per litre, diesel 50ppm at N$28.26 per litre, and diesel 10ppm at N$28.36 per litre. The ministry said the decision would provide stability for consumers despite global oil market fluctuations and recent price increases in May.
The government's proposed 51% local ownership requirement for future mining licences has strained relations with the Chamber of Mines, which raised concerns about investor confidence and capital flight. The article argues that while foreign investment is important to the mining sector, Namibia's minerals belong first to Namibians and the country must balance competing interests.
A €500 million framework loan facility from the European Investment Bank has not yet been rolled out in Namibia despite EU partnership progress in green hydrogen, critical raw materials, and infrastructure development.
The EU and Namibian Government have agreed to extend their Strategic Partnership Roadmap until 2030, originally launched in 2023 to promote cooperation in renewable hydrogen and critical raw materials value chains. The extension will deepen cooperation through European investment, technology transfer, and improved market access.
National Council members have urged the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy to ensure mining companies contribute directly to Namibia's development, warning that the country loses out while foreign-owned firms benefit from its natural resources. Lawmakers also called for stricter inspection of mining sites to combat illegal mining, affordable electricity access for rural communities, and preservation of mineral resources for future generations.
Policy uncertainty around fuel drum restrictions has created conditions for organised fuel theft and smuggling, the Windhoek Observer reports. The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy clarified that legitimate bulk purchases by farmers and businesses do not constitute hoarding, but the confusion exposed vulnerability to an informal market around the commodity.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, utility-scale solar and onshore wind power now cost about US$40 per megawatt-hour globally in 2025, less than half the cost of new gas turbine plants at over US$100 per megawatt-hour, as renewable costs have fallen and fossil fuel prices have risen.
Namibian oil and gas investor Knowledge Katti has issued a statement supporting the Petroleum Amendment Bill and the proposed Upstream Petroleum Unit in the Office of the President, arguing the reforms are necessary to strengthen oversight, attract investment, and accelerate Namibia's transition to oil production.
The Cabinet has approved a new Green Industries Council, replacing the Green Hydrogen Council after it ended in February 2025. The council will oversee Namibia's broader green industrialisation agenda, focusing on policy coordination, institutional alignment and investment priorities to accelerate industrialisation, economic diversification and job creation.
The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy said farmers, tourism operators and other businesses buying fuel in drums and jerry cans for operational use should not be viewed as engaging in fuel hoarding or panic buying. The ministry instructed fuel retailers to use discretion and ask for reasonable explanations to distinguish legitimate bulk buyers from those stockpiling, with temporary measures remaining in place for three months.
Knowledge Katti has urged Parliament and national leaders to support the creation of the Upstream Petroleum Unit (UPU) and the Petroleum Amendment Bill, arguing these reforms are necessary to help Namibia transition from oil exploration to production and address long-standing governance challenges in the sector.
The City of Windhoek announced a reduction in debt from N$888 million to N$869 million, but residents criticized the municipality for spending heavily on salaries while service delivery remains poor, citing issues with waste collection and road repairs.
Namibia's offshore oil and gas sector continues to draw international interest, with a hydrocarbon licence map showing growing exploration activity across coastal basins and frontier areas. Multiple international oil companies hold exploration licences, with newly allocated blocks involving companies such as Baobab Energy, Elephant Oil, and others, while the offshore Orange Basin remains the main focus following recent major oil discoveries.
University of Namibia student Magdalena Ndivayele, who runs a cuca shop at Groot Aub settlement 56 kilometres south of Windhoek, installed a solar system after the City of Windhoek failed to connect the area to the national grid despite repeated promises. The solar installation has improved safety in her section and attracted more customers to her shop.
The Namibia Industrial Development Agency is fighting a government directive to transfer 154 properties worth about N$3 billion to a new Public Asset Management Agency, warning that the assets are central to its funding and operations. The transfer, allegedly mandated by Cabinet as part of state asset restructuring, has raised fears about job losses and the agency's existence.
Namibia's government will not extend sport bar trading hours during the Fifa World Cup in June, despite calls from football fans. Most sport bars operate until 02h00 under current licences, but World Cup matches are scheduled to begin at 03h00 and 04h00, forcing viewers to leave before games end.
Nudo parliamentarian Vetaruhe Kandorozu told the National Assembly that the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy lacks adequate capacity and has become a "breeding ground for corruption," citing questionable diamond valuations, improperly awarded lithium licences, and inconsistent petroleum exploration licence processing, and alleged an ongoing dispute with Red Soil Energy and Mineral Exploration exposed systemic corruption spanning multiple administrations.
Namibia Power Corporation has successfully listed a N$5 billion Domestic Medium-Term Note Programme on the Namibia Securities Exchange, enabling the utility to raise funding through various debt instruments aligned with strategic projects and sustainability goals. The listing follows a two-year preparation process and provides NamPower with flexible, cost-effective access to capital markets while supporting Namibia's energy sector expansion.
A technical delegation comprising representatives from the Namibia Power Corporation, Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia, and the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy is in China to study advanced renewable energy technologies, including wind energy, solar solutions, and battery storage, with engagements centered on scaling Namibia's infrastructure and supporting the country's goal to increase renewable energy's share in the national energy mix from 54% to 70% by 2040.
A high-level Namibian delegation, led by the Green Hydrogen Programme and supported by the Global Wind Energy Council, is visiting China to study renewable energy solutions and industrial development, with focus on wind power, solar energy, battery storage, and fuel cells. The visit aims to help Namibia reduce electricity imports, build local energy supply, and eventually become a green energy exporter.
Namibia's Cabinet has withdrawn the Okoutjete area in Kunene region from prospecting and mining activities and directed police to patrol and monitor the site to deter illegal mining. The decision reserves the Okoutjete gold occurrence from mining operations under the Minerals Act, subject to consultation with the Environment Ministry.
Brent crude prices have swung sharply amid Middle East tensions, with Namibian pump prices at Walvis Bay reaching N$22.08 per litre—just 20 cents below their 2022 all-time high. The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy will set May fuel prices based on developments over the coming two weeks, as vessel traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted.
Petrovena Energy has been issued an award letter to enter into a petroleum agreement and be granted a licence for oil block 2812Ab in the Orange Basin, according to its Canadian partner Oregen Energy. If granted, Petrovena will expand its presence in the basin near existing discoveries of Venus and Mopane, while Oregen considers investing in Petrovena to gain access to the block.
Civil society organisations have accused the government of lack of transparency on oil and gas information access, with various agencies declining to provide petroleum licence details and citing organisational restructuring. Multiple officials and institutions have refused to respond to inquiries, prompting warnings that withholding critical sector information undermines public trust and the right to know.