Also known as: Minister of mines and energy Tom Alweendo
Former Minister of Mines and Energy calling for local financial institutions and implementation planning in Namibia's oil and gas sector.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Tom Alweendo stated that anticipated oil extraction and profitability in next four years
“The oil is anticipated to be extracted and become profitable in the next four years, according to mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo.”
Uanguta to steady Namcor shipThe Namibian
Tom Alweendo was set to meet with Namcor on 7 November
“Namcor and Alweendo were set to meet on 7 November.”
Emirates firm threatens Namcor over N$176m debtThe Namibian
Minister Tom Alweendo referred questions to the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises
“Minister of mines and energy Tom Alweendo referred questions to the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises.”
Namcor hopes for Cabinet bailout as financial crisis bitesThe Namibian
Minister Tom Alweendo says the 'right people' should be at the forefront of Namibia's oil and gas industry
“Minister of mines and energy Tom Alweendo says the "right people" should be at the forefront of Namibia's budding oil and gas industry.”
‘The right people must benefit from oil industry’The Namibian
Alweendo accused some developed nations of pressuring Namibia not to utilise resources due to environmental concerns
“Alweendo accused some developed nations of pressuring Namibia not to utilise these resources due to environmental concerns, even though their own contributions to pollution are significantly higher – calling it "hypocrisy".”
‘The right people must benefit from oil industry’The Namibian
Energy minister Tom Alweendo told a conference that poor oil management can drive corruption, inequality, and social tensions
“"Poor management of the oil and gas sector can drive corruption and inequality that in turn will fuel social tensions and threaten political stability. We thus need to learn lessons from some oil-producing nations…" energy minister Tom Alweendo told a conference this week.”
Oil and Gas: A Pipeline to Prosperity or a Road to Ruin?The Namibian
Mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo highlighted Japan's pivotal role in green hydrogen and rare earth minerals
“Mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo also highlighted Japan's pivotal role as a significant global partner in the realms of green hydrogen and rare earth minerals.”
Japan enters Namibia’s green hydrogen rushThe Namibian
Tom Alweendo said we cannot achieve Vision 2030 and need a serious paradigm shift
“When he launched NDP4 in June 2017, former NPC director general Tom Alweendo said: "At the rate that we are going, I still maintain that we cannot achieve Vision 2030, and we need a serious paradigm shift and implementation of the programmes we create".”
Enter Another ‘White Elephant’: NDP6The Namibian
Tom Alweewood said commissioners have never been convicted of crimes and lacked trust is disheartening
“Our commissioners have never been convicted of any crimes, therefore, it is disheartening to hear the lack of trust.”
We do not trust Namcor – SwartbooiThe Namibian
Tom Alweendo denied malicious slander against his person
“"This is malicious slander against my person. Throughout my professional career, I promoted good governance and spoke out against corruption; that hasn't changed," Alweendo said this week.”
Stop The Corruption in MiningFormer mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo told a Bank of Namibia seminar that Namibia's financial institutions must build capacity to participate in the emerging oil and gas sector, warning that discoveries alone will not translate into prosperity without strong institutions, financing capacity and local participation.
5 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Former mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo told a Bank of Namibia seminar that Namibia's financial institutions must build capacity to participate in the emerging oil and gas sector, warning that discoveries alone will not translate into prosperity without strong institutions, financing capacity and local participation.
5 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Tom Alweendo, former Minister of Mines and Energy, has called on local banks and financial institutions to play a more active role in Namibia's oil and gas industry, warning that without their participation the financial value chain—including advisory fees and project structuring—will be captured by foreign institutions.
4 August 2026 · Informanté →
The Bank of Namibia officially presented athletics legend Frank Fredericks with a commemorative coin that was minted in his honour in 1996 but had never been handed over until now.
1 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Thirty-six years after independence, Namibia remains one of the world's most unequal nations despite political stability, vast natural resources and upper-middle-income status. Nearly one million Namibians live in informal settlements and youth unemployment is high, with wealth concentrated among a small segment of society, a legacy of colonial and apartheid-era policies.
31 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Former mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo has called on the government to publish a clear implementation plan for Namibia's nine cooperation agreements with China signed during a presidential state visit in July, saying the country must move from diplomatic agreements to concrete industrial planning with measurable economic benefits and identify priority minerals, processing stages, infrastructure gaps, and annual targets for investment and exports.
14 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Mineworkers' Union of Namibia channels members' dues through Namibia Miners Investment Trust (Namit) and Nam-Mic Holdings, which have grown into a N$900-million portfolio with stakes in banks, mines, hotels and other sectors. Members and their representatives say they have seen little benefit from their decades of contributions and allege lack of transparency and financial irregularities.
21 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Southern Africa is entering a new minerals cycle driven by the energy transition and demand for critical minerals, giving Namibia and the SADC region a chance to capture deeper industrial value through local processing. Success requires more than regulation — it demands reliable electricity, water, environmental systems, skilled technicians, infrastructure, finance and customers.
10 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's offshore oil is legally owned by investors with 90%, while the state receives revenue through taxes and royalties, limiting the country's control over development decisions and ability to secure local benefits. President Nandi-Ndaitwah has positioned the delayed petroleum amendment bill as critical to strengthening the state's bargaining position on local content, job creation, and value retention, though fundamental investor control over operations cannot be altered.
25 April 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Acting judge David Mangota ruled that Zambezi Exploration's urgent application to restrain the minister of industries, mines and energy from implementing a decision about a petroleum exploration licence for block 2812A did not meet the requirements to be heard as urgent, finding the urgency was self-created because the company delayed action after learning of a rival's relinquishment in January 2023. The judge ordered Zambezi Exploration to pay the legal costs of the minister and Vena Gemstones & Mining, the company that was awarded the licence.
21 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Red Soil Energy has appealed to the Supreme Court over the mines ministry's 2021 rejection of its petroleum exploration licence application for four offshore oil blocks. The company claims it was treated unfairly and differently from competing applicants, while the minister argues the application was incomplete and lacked required financial documentation.
16 April 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that Namibia's local content policy in oil and gas should be measured by actual skilled employment, apprenticeships linked to real job demand, and technology transfer—not merely spending figures or scholarships—to prevent fronting and ensure young Namibians gain lasting capability and productive livelihoods.
8 February 2026 · The Namibian →
A political science student argues that elected councillors and regional representatives lack sufficient educational qualifications to effectively manage budgets, interpret legislation, and drive development, citing examples like Katima Mulilo's land mismanagement and calling for a national dialogue on minimum leadership standards.
7 February 2026 · New Era →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has asked the attorney general to review the circumstances surrounding Paragon Oil & Gas' petroleum exploration licence (PEL 37) renewal, which was granted for four years despite regulations limiting third renewals to two years. The licence resurfaced as a controversy when former mines minister Natangwe Ithete was fired last year, allegedly for approving the renewal against the president's wishes.
26 January 2026 · The Namibian →