… Trump has announced a deadline of midnight Greenwich Mean Time on Tuesday (02h00 Central African Time) for Iran to end its de facto closing of the Strait of Hormuz – a narrow, strategic waterway used to transport oil and other commodities. …
On Monday, US President Donald Trump threatened to take out Iran “in one night” if it failed to agree a deal by 20:00 Washington DC time on Tuesday (00:00GMT Wednesday) to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. …
United States president Donald Trump threatened in an expletive-laden post on Sunday to strike Iran’s power plants and bridges if it does not reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz, after announcing the rescue of an airman in a “miraculous” operation. …
… This fuel price increase has been in relation to the escalating conflicts in the Middle East, particularly the sustained closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has manifested in soaring international oil prices. …
… The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran has also led to a restriction of the supply of fertiliser to the rest of the world. …
… Since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to most ships in response to United States and Israeli airstrikes, supply chains for petrochemical-based materials have been disrupted, leading to a “huge shortage” of silicone oil and a projected 40-50% price surge for ammonia, according to …
The US launched fresh attacks on Iranian military targets on Sunday, killing one person and injuring four according to Iranian state media. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by striking US military bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, while the two countries dispute control of the Strait of Hormuz and the future of their June interim agreement.
The US launched fresh attacks on Iranian military targets on Sunday, killing one person and injuring four according to Iranian state media. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by striking US military bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, while the two countries dispute control of the Strait of Hormuz and the future of their June interim agreement.
Namibia's inflation, which peaked at 4.4% in June, is expected to moderate in the second half of 2026 following fuel price cuts in July. However, economists warn that electricity tariffs, administered price increases, and food costs pose upside risks.
Namibia's fuel prices will decrease effective 3 July 2026: petrol 95 by N$1.00 per litre to N$22.48, and all diesel grades by N$4.00 per litre (diesel 50 ppm to N$24.26, diesel 10 ppm to N$24.36 at Walvis Bay). The Minister of Mines attributed the reductions to softer international oil prices, improved supply chains, and NAD appreciation against the USD.
Crude oil is the single most important commodity for Namibian macroeconomic conditions. Global oil price surges—driven by Middle East disruptions and supply constraints—cascade quickly into domestic fuel price increases, as demonstrated by April-May 2026 fuel price hikes of 19.9% for petrol and 43.9% for diesel.
Southern African Customs Union leaders, including President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, have approved establishment of a R5 billion regional development fund to finance cross-border industrial and infrastructure projects across all five member states. The fund will be financed from the SACU Common Revenue Pool during the 2027/28 and 2028/29 financial years.
The Bank of Namibia's governor reports that the Monetary Policy Committee increased the repo rate by 25 basis points in response to rising inflationary pressures driven by oil infrastructure damage and shipping disruptions from Middle Eastern conflict. As a small open economy, Namibia remains vulnerable to external shocks transmitted through global markets.
US President Donald Trump announced that Washington and Tehran reached an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without toll fees and remove the US naval blockade of Iran. Brent crude subsequently dropped nearly 5% to US$83.17 per barrel.
US Vice-President JD Vance says Donald Trump may decide to release a preliminary memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran before Friday, when the deal is formally signed in Geneva. The MOU, described as "about a page and a half" and "very general," has already been electronically signed by Trump, Vance, and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Petroleum oils, including diesel and petrol, accounted for 18.1% of Namibia's goods imports in April, the highest share of any product. The country imported goods worth N$14.2 billion but exported only N$9.8 billion, creating a N$4.4 billion trade deficit, with petroleum mainly sourced from Nigeria, Oman and Sweden.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and resulting rise in global oil prices are expected to push inflation higher in Namibia and South Africa over coming months, though analysts say the impact will be temporary and unlikely to trigger a prolonged inflation cycle. Namibia's inflation rose from 2.1% in March to 3.1% in April as fuel prices increased, and is expected to climb further.
VunaNexus, a Swiss startup, has developed a process to recycle human urine into a certified mineral fertiliser called Aurin. The technology, installed at the European Space Agency's Paris headquarters, uses special toilets to divert urine into a treatment system that removes micropollutants and concentrates nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus before pasteurisation.
The Southern African Development Community has called for urgent regional action to strengthen food security and agricultural resilience, citing threats from global supply chain disruptions, climate change, and livestock diseases. SADC deputy executive secretary Angèle N'Tumba warned that worsening climate shocks and geopolitical conflicts—including the Middle East conflict disrupting fertiliser and fuel supplies—are placing millions at risk of hunger.
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is disrupting a quarter of the world's fertiliser supply, which the UN estimates could raise fertiliser prices 15–20% and push at least 45 million people into acute hunger. The article argues that dependence on fossil fuels for fertiliser production poses a greater threat to global food security than climate change.
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.
Rising fuel prices and global supply shocks, driven by conflict around the Strait of Hormuz, are pushing mining companies to rethink operations. Husab mine has introduced a trolley line system that allows trucks to switch from diesel to electricity on steep ramps, reducing fuel consumption and improving efficiency.
President Trump dismissed Iran's response to US proposals to end the war as "totally unacceptable." Iran's proposal, sent via Pakistan as mediator, included an immediate end to the war on all fronts, a halt to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, guarantees against further attacks on Iran, compensation for war damage, and emphasis on Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Following the Israel–US joint attack on Iran in February, oil prices rose above US$100 per barrel, with Namibia's government raising fuel prices in April by N$2.50 for petrol and N$4 for diesel. While temporary levy cuts and National Energy Fund subsidies have cushioned consumer impact—absorbing approximately N$500 million in April alone—further food and logistics inflation is expected as second-wave effects reach Namibia.
Namibia's fuel prices increased significantly—petrol by N$1.40 per litre and diesel by N$4.63 per litre effective today—due to conflict around the Strait of Hormuz driving up international oil prices. The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy assured the public that sufficient fuel stocks are available for the next three months and prohibits panic buying to ensure stable supply.
Namibia's Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy announced fuel price increases effective at midnight: Petrol 95 up by N$1.40 to N$23.48 per litre; Diesel 50 ppm up by N$4.60 to N$28.60 per litre; and Diesel 10 ppm up by N$4.63 to N$28.36 per litre. The government attributed the increases to sustained international oil price rises, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Namibia's dependence on imported refined petroleum products, rising freight and shipping costs, exchange rate fluctuations, and higher insurance and fuel procurement premiums.
US President Donald Trump has said the war in Iran will be "over quickly" and that he aims to end Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Iran said a US proposal to end the war is "still being considered"; Axios reported the White House is working toward a 14-point memorandum of understanding with Iran that could frame nuclear negotiations, with provisions including suspension of Iranian nuclear enrichment, lifting sanctions, and restoring free transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump announced "Project Freedom" to assist ships stranded by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but paused it two days later to pursue a potential agreement with Iran. The waterway has been blocked since US and Israeli airstrikes on 28 February, with Iran's military firing at US warships and the US sinking small boats, threatening an ongoing ceasefire.
Recent oil and gas discoveries in the Orange Basin, with an over 80% exploration success rate, position Namibia to avoid reliance on imported fuel and build local refining capacity—a lesson highlighted by recent fuel price shocks tied to Middle Eastern conflicts.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow sea passage between Iran and Oman connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, is a critical global shipping route; geopolitical tensions there, particularly between the US and Iran, can disrupt maritime traffic and affect countries far away including Namibia.
Namibia Airports Company chief executive Bisey /Uirab says the country has sufficient fuel capacity to bridge short-term supply constraints amid geopolitical tensions affecting shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Fuel suppliers at Namibian airports are contractually required to maintain reserves of Jet A1 and FGas.
The United Arab Emirates has announced it will leave the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and Opec+ effective 1 May to pursue its own energy strategies and "national interests", a move the UAE says reflects its "long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile."
Kornelia Shilunga, Head of the Upstream Petroleum Unit in the Presidency, urged Namibia's oil and gas sector to identify new trade corridors, invest in resilient infrastructure, and strengthen partnerships amid global geopolitical tension. She called on stakeholders to remain alert to commodity markets, trade dynamics, and shipping security while investing in Namibia's oil and gas development.
The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs confirmed that the USS George HW Bush, a US nuclear-powered super aircraft carrier, is transiting in Namibia's exclusive economic zone under international maritime law without entering territorial waters. The vessel is sailing under provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees freedom of navigation, and is en route around the African continent to avoid heightened activity in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz.
The world's largest condom maker, Karex, says it will raise prices by up to 30% or more if the Iran conflict continues to disrupt supplies of raw materials like ammonia and silicone-based lubricants that rely on oil. The disruption to the Strait of Hormuz has also driven up costs for air fares, fertilizers, helium, and other goods globally.
Kenya's energy regulator has raised diesel and petrol prices to record levels, citing higher global oil and shipping costs exacerbated by conflict in Iran, even as the government cut value-added tax to cushion consumers. The increase occurs alongside a fuel quality scandal and reports of shortages, though officials say stocks are sufficient.
US president Donald Trump ordered a blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of an oil shock by threatening supplies particularly to Asia. The blockade follows recent US-Israel military action and threatens to disrupt Iran's crude exports at a time when shipments have been helping ease global market pressure, with oil prices already jumping 8% in response to the announcement.