Namibia Minute.
Monday, 8 June 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 8 June 2026
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Mining & Energy

Uranium, diamonds, oil & gas, green hydrogen.

Mining & Energy

Energy minister grants Vitol exclusive fuel import mandate

The News

Energy Minister Modestus Amutse granted Swiss commodity trader Vitol an exclusive mandate to supply Namibia's entire fuel needs from June to August under a contract valued at an estimated N$2.4 billion a month, raising concerns about fuel sector capture given Vitol's links to individuals connected to politicians and the decision's apparent circumvention of the Competition Commission's conditions on fuel sourcing.

Why it matters

Exclusive fuel-supply contract to Vitol worth N$2.4 billion monthly raises serious accountability concerns over sector capture and competition process circumvention.

10 hours ago · The Namibian →

Yesterday

  1. Energy minister grants Vitol exclusive fuel import mandate

    Energy Minister Modestus Amutse granted Swiss commodity trader Vitol an exclusive mandate to supply Namibia's entire fuel needs from June to August under a contract valued at an estimated N$2.4 billion a month, raising concerns about fuel sector capture given Vitol's links to individuals connected to politicians and the decision's apparent circumvention of the Competition Commission's conditions on fuel sourcing.

    10 hours ago · The Namibian →

Friday 5 June

  1. Schlettwein urges transparency, accountability in oil wealth

    Former cabinet minister Calle Schlettwein warns that Namibia's emerging oil and gas wealth must not be concentrated among a select few, calling for stronger accountability and transparency. He notes that the country's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf claim could nearly double its natural resource endowment, though he cautions that sectors like fisheries already face challenges from overfishing and declining stocks.

    5 June 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Koryx signs grid deal for Haib Copper Project development

    Koryx Copper has signed a memorandum of understanding with NamPower for bulk electricity supply to its Haib Copper Project in southern Namibia and is advancing water supply plans from the Orange River. The project will use a hybrid power system combining national grid electricity, solar generation, and potential battery storage, designed to meet an estimated peak demand of 152 MVA and annual consumption of about 1,131 GWh, with a pre-feasibility study expected later this year.

    5 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  3. De Beers launches Desert Diamonds campaign to promote natural diamonds

    De Beers Group has intensified efforts to boost demand for natural diamonds through a new phase of its global 'Desert Diamonds' marketing campaign, aiming to distinguish natural stones from synthetic alternatives and capitalize on growing consumer interest. Namibia produced 556,000 carats in the first quarter ending 31 March 2026, and diamonds remain critical to the country's economy.

    5 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 4 June

  1. Government launches EV charging station pilot at ministry headquarters

    The Ministry of Works and Transport has installed an electric vehicle charging station at its Windhoek headquarters as a pilot project to assess the feasibility of a nationwide charging network. The facility, designed by ministry engineers, will serve as a case study to guide future EV charging infrastructure deployment across the country, initially targeting government-owned vehicles and government employees before expanding to the public.

    4 June 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Namibian Competition Commission approves TotalEnergies licence swap

    The Namibian Competition Commission has approved a transaction in which TotalEnergies EP Namibia BV and Windhoek PEL 28 BV exchange participating interests in three petroleum exploration licences. The regulator found the transaction resulted in only marginal change in market share and no public interest concerns.

    4 June 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. Mineworkers' union investment structures grow to N$900 million

    The Mineworkers Union of Namibia says assets held through Namitvest and Nammic investment structures have grown to more than N$900 million, funded through monthly payroll deductions from participating members. The union outlined its investment activities and recent interventions to protect jobs in the mining sector.

    4 June 2026 · The Namibian →

  4. Namibian regulator approves Chinese nuclear firm's Etango uranium stake

    The Namibian Competition Commission has approved CNNC Overseas Ltd's acquisition of a minority interest in Bannerman Energy, which is developing the Etango uranium project in Erongo. The approval came subject to conditions requiring employment creation, skills development and transfer, and increased participation of Namibian firms in the uranium value chain.

    4 June 2026 · The Namibian →

  5. Twenty-eight trainees begin gemstone skills training

    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.

    4 June 2026 · Informanté →

  6. Bank of Namibia to acquire 600 kg gold from local mines

    The Bank of Namibia plans to acquire 600 kilograms of gold from local mines by the end of the fourth quarter of 2026 as part of a strategy to strengthen the country's foreign exchange reserves.

    4 June 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Wednesday 3 June

  1. Most SMEs unprepared for oil sector procurement opportunities

    As TotalEnergies and other companies approach final investment decisions on Orange Basin projects before 2026, the oil and gas sector will begin broad procurement across raw materials, infrastructure, and services. However, most Namibian small and medium enterprises are not yet positioned to compete for these opportunities.

    3 June 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. RMB: Extractive industries can build Namibia's industrial hub

    Angelique Peake, who leads RMB Namibia's oil and gas practice, said Namibia should leverage its extractive industry—oil, gas, uranium mining, and green hydrogen—to build an industrial hub and create skilled jobs over the coming decades.

    3 June 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. 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 →

  4. 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 →

Tuesday 2 June

  1. Rosatom seeks uranium mining approval pending IAEA report

    Russian state-owned Rosatom, through subsidiary Headspring Investments, claims groundwater in the Stampriet Basin already contains uranium at levels approximately 300 times higher than WHO drinking water guidelines. The company awaits an independent IAEA report on its proposed in situ leaching uranium mining project in Omaheke Region, which the Namibian government has received and Cabinet is reviewing.

    2 June 2026 · Informanté →

  2. NamRA strengthens tax compliance oversight in extractive sector

    The Namibia Revenue Agency is improving its ability to identify tax risks and revenue opportunities in mining, oil and gas through technical assistance from the African Tax Administration Forum, which supported Namibia in areas including transfer pricing and extractive sector taxation.

    2 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Trending people
  1. Modestus Amutse
    2024-10-15·117 mentions over 601 days·2026-06-08
  2. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
    2020-08-17·761 mentions over 2121 days·2026-06-08
  3. Calle Schlettwein
    2023-07-16·29 mentions over 1058 days·2026-06-08
  4. Miguel Hamutenya
    2026-02-19·14 mentions over 109 days·2026-06-08
  5. Johannes Ashipala
    2026-02-19·8 mentions over 109 days·2026-06-08
Trending organizations
  1. Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy
    2022-08-27·133 mentions over 1381 days·2026-06-08
  2. Chamber of Mines of Namibia
    2024-07-11·21 mentions over 697 days·2026-06-08
  3. Namibian Competition Commission
    2024-05-14·37 mentions over 755 days·2026-06-08
  4. De Beers
    2018-11-16·26 mentions over 2761 days·2026-06-08
  5. Vitol
    2023-03-26·20 mentions over 1170 days·2026-06-08
Trending events
  1. Environmental Management Act
    2026-01-19·8 mentions over 140 days·2026-06-08
  2. Etango uranium project
    2023-12-20·7 mentions over 901 days·2026-06-08
  3. Haib Copper Project
    2026-01-09·7 mentions over 150 days·2026-06-08
  4. NDP6
    2025-07-27·45 mentions over 316 days·2026-06-08
  5. National Development Plan
    2024-06-05·111 mentions over 733 days·2026-06-08
Namibia Minute