Also known as: energy minister Modestus Amutse · Hon. Modestus Amutse · Minister Modestus Amutse · minister of industries, mines and energy Modestus Amutse · Minister Amutse · mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse · Former journalist Mines and Energy Minister Modestus Amutse · Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse · deputy minister Modestus Amutse · Industries, mines and energy minister · industries, mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse · Mines minister Modestus Amutse · Honourable Modestus Amutse
Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy leading Namibia's oil and gas sector development and energy policy.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
August 2026
The Namibian
Mines Minister Modestus Amutsestatedrevised pump prices at Walvis Bay for petrol, diesel 50ppm, and diesel 10ppm
Source
“According to a statement, mines minister Modestus Amutse says the revised pump prices at Walvis Bay will now be N$25.08 per litre for petrol, N$27.86 per litre for diesel 50ppm, and N$27.96 per litre for diesel 10ppm.”
Modestus Amutseurgedinternational investors to explore opportunities in Namibia's emerging oil and gas sector
Source
“MINISTER of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse has urged international investors to explore opportunities in Namibia's emerging oil and gas sector, while highlighting the country's rule of law, investor protections, local content policy and mineral beneficiation ambitions.”
Modestus Amutsestatedinternational oil markets remained highly volatile during review period
Source
“Amutse stated that international oil markets remained highly volatile during the review period, with continued geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and persistent disruptions to crude oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz keeping global oil supply and shipping conditions under pressure.”
Minister of industries, mines and energy Modestus Amutseofficially inauguratedthe national steering committee on the informal economy
Source
“This was said by central bank governor Ebson Uanguta when he addressed members of the national steering committee on the informal economy, which was officially inaugurated by the minister of industries, mines and energy Modestus Amutse last Friday.”
Minister Modestus Amutsesaidsustainable industrialisation cannot be achieved if a significant portion of the economy remains excluded
Source
“Speaking at the launch event, Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse said the event's theme, "Building an Inclusive and Competitive Informal Economy as a Driver of Namibia's Industrialisation and Economic Transformation," reminds us that sustainable industrialisation cannot be achieved if a significant portion of the economy remains excluded from mainstream development opportunities.”
Minister Modestus Amutseis participating inthe week-long Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) Summit in Stavanger, Norway
Source
“MINISTER of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse is in Stavanger, Norway, where he is participating in the week-long Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) Summit, as Namibia seeks to strengthen international partnerships and draw on global experience as it develops its emerging oil and gas sector.”
Energy minister Modestus Amutsestated that the jet A-1 supply challenge isa quality and supply matter from commercial arrangement, not government-directed arrangement
Source
“"The present jet A-1 supply challenge is a quality and supply matter arising from a commercial arrangement between two oil marketing companies, separate from the government-directed petrol and diesel supply arrangement," energy minister Modestus Amutse says in a statement released on Monday.”
Escalating Middle East conflict and global oil supply disruptions have driven up international crude prices, with petrol increasing by 60c and diesel by 160c per litre as of 2 September. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 25% of the world's oil supplies, has caused oil prices to spike to around US$120 a barrel.
Escalating Middle East conflict and global oil supply disruptions have driven up international crude prices, with petrol increasing by 60c and diesel by 160c per litre as of 2 September. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 25% of the world's oil supplies, has caused oil prices to spike to around US$120 a barrel.
The Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, speaking at the Offshore Northern Seas Summit in Norway, urged international investors to explore Namibia's emerging oil and gas opportunities, noting that the country has moved beyond exploration to the development phase with recent discoveries in the Orange Basin including Venus, where partners plan a floating production system with approximately 160,000 barrels per day capacity.
Namibia's energy ministry will increase petrol prices by 60 cents per litre to N$25.08 and diesel by N$1.60 per litre effective September 2, citing volatile international oil markets and a 30-cent increase in road user charge levies to fund feeder road projects.
The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy has announced fuel price increases effective from midnight 2 September 2026: ULP95 will increase by 60 cents per litre, while Diesel 50ppm and Diesel 10ppm will each increase by 160 cents per litre. The revised pump prices at Walvis Bay will be N$25.08 per litre for Petrol 95, N$27.86 per litre for Diesel 50ppm, and N$27.96 per litre for Diesel 10ppm.
The Bank of Namibia plans to introduce digital money on mobile phones by next June to expand financial inclusion and improve instant payments, with initial use for government-to-person transactions followed by person-to-person transfers. The central bank governor said the digital system will help formalise the informal economy by creating transaction histories that businesses can use to obtain loans from banks.
The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy has launched the National Steering Committee on the Informal Economy to provide advice on policies and strategies and coordinate government interventions in formalizing the informal economy. The committee, composed of representatives from various ministries, the central bank, and sector associations, aims to improve access to markets, finance, infrastructure, and services while fostering linkages between informal enterprises and larger industries.
Minister Modestus Amutse is participating in the week-long Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) Summit in Stavanger, Norway, to strengthen international partnerships and draw on global experience as Namibia develops its emerging oil and gas sector. The forum brings together government leaders, executives and policymakers to discuss global energy trends, energy security, technological developments and sustainability.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy defended its three-month fuel supply deal with Vitol, stating the jet fuel shortage affecting the country since last week results from a failed quality inspection of a Puma-Vivo fuel shipment, not the government arrangement which covers only petrol and diesel.
Minister Modestus Amutse officially inaugurated the National Steering Committee on the Informal Economy in Windhoek on Friday, a 35-member body chaired by Diina Nashidengo. According to the minister, 58% of the workforce is employed in the informal sector, with 59% in rural areas.
Vivo Energy Namibia detected and quarantined off-spec Jet A-1 fuel destined for Hosea Kutako International Airport, causing aviation fuel shortages that forced some long-haul flights to reroute to Angola. The Namibia Airports Company says it is coordinating with fuel suppliers and stakeholders to manage the situation.
At the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference, mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse reassured investors that policy uncertainty will not derail Namibia's most advanced offshore oil projects, citing institutional, policy, and fiscal certainty. The move of upstream petroleum control from the energy ministry to the Office of the Presidency is a deliberate realignment to protect the sector, Amutse said, while a new local content policy approved this month provides investors with clear expectations.
Vice President Lucia Witbooi said Namibia's oil discoveries will be measured on how many Namibian lives they improve, and called on Namibians to actively participate in developing the emerging oil and gas industry to create employment, skills, and infrastructure.
Namibia's Cabinet has approved the National Upstream Petroleum Local Content Policy, designed to increase Namibian participation across the petroleum value chain through local business development, employment, skills transfer, and procurement access. The government aims to move from exploration to production between 2026 and 2030, prioritising local employment, suppliers, and skills development.
At the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference 2026, Honourable Modestus Amutse, Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, called on Namibia to be ready for first oil and to maximise local benefits from the industry, addressing discoveries in the Orange Basin.
Special Advisor Kornelia Shilunga outlined Namibia's vision for converting oil and gas sector decisions into national benefits at the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference 2026.
The government has established a National Technical Committee on Institutionalisation of the Informal Economy to design inclusive legal frameworks and budget for social protection and financial inclusion for the informal sector, which accounts for about 57% of Namibian employment according to informal economy advocates.
A US delegation led by Ambassador John Giordano, including officials from the State Department's energy and trade agencies, held high-level meetings with Namibian government officials and industry leaders to expand cooperation in energy security, critical minerals, infrastructure, and emerging technologies. The delegation also represented the US at the Namibian Mining Expo and met with the Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy to discuss opportunities in these sectors.
According to The Namibian, escalating conflict between the US and Iran has sent global energy prices soaring and disrupted maritime chokepoints critical to petroleum supply in southern Africa, causing measurable increases in fuel, food, and transport costs that are eroding household incomes across Namibia.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah opened the 13th Chamber of Mines Mining Expo and Conference, themed "From Dialogue to Delivery: Assessing Progress in Creating Mining-Led Economic Growth and Employment Since NamPPF." The President stated that the mining sector remains one of Namibia's leading economic sectors towards Vision 2030.
Petrol and diesel prices will increase by N$2 per litre from 5 August 2026 after the Government reinstated fuel levies that had been temporarily reduced to cushion motorists against global oil price shocks. Petrol 95 will rise to N$24.48 per litre, while Diesel 50ppm and 10ppm will rise to N$26.36 per litre.
The Namibia Competition Commission has objected to the proposed acquisition of Schwenk Namibia by West China Cement (Whale Rock Cement), based on stakeholder input and competition law concerns including market concentration.
The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy dismissed reports that Namibia has lost its bid to acquire a stake in De Beers, calling circulating information "misleading and incorrect," after Botswana's minister said Anglo American had selected the Global Diamond Consortium as its preferred bidder for the diamond producer's sale.
Members of Parliament have challenged the incoming Anti-Corruption Commission leadership to demonstrate independence and impartiality, with lawmakers warning that the institution's credibility depends on investigating corruption without fear or favour. Swapo MP Tobie Aupindi criticized the outgoing ACC leadership and alleged the commission had been weaponized to settle political scores and applied investigations selectively.
Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse has approved the merger between Nasan Energies and the divestiture business from Vivo Energy and Engen Namibia, while suspending enforcement of several conditions imposed by the Namibia Competition Commission. The decision follows a review application by Nasan Energies in April; the merger involved Nasan acquiring 52 Shell and Engen service stations divested as a competition remedy after Vivo Energy acquired Engen's downstream fuel business.
The Namibian's editorial argues that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's visit to China offers an opportunity for Namibia to learn from Beijing's economic reforms in artificial intelligence, agriculture, and energy, while remaining cautious about China's record on human rights and debt practices in developing countries.
The Independent Patriots for Change has accused the government of weakening fuel-sector competition by suspending restrictions on Nasan Energies sourcing fuel from Vitol. The restrictions were imposed by the Namibian Competition Commission in April over concerns the deal would substantially lessen competition, but line minister Modestus Amutse suspended them under Section 49 of the Competition Act; IPC claims Vitol already controls between 75% and 85% of Namibia's wholesale fuel market.
Namibia's energy minister has suspended competition commission conditions that prohibited Nasan Energies from buying fuel from Vitol for five years following its acquisition of 42 service stations from Vivo Energy in May. The suspension is temporary and attributed to concerns about the state's fuel import costs and the financial strain on the National Energy Fund.
Ohorongo Cement says its merger with Schwenk Namibia's Cheetah Cement, approved with conditions by the minister of industries, mines and energy, will not result in job losses but will involve staff relocation from Otjiwarongo to Otavi and increased local ownership requirements.
The government spent N$1.3 billion in two months to keep fuel prices low, draining the National Energy Fund to between N$200 million and N$300 million. Heavy spending began in April when international fuel costs rose, with the government paying N$805 million in April and N$490 million in May.