US steps up Namibia energy talks
A senior United States (US) delegation has completed a week of meetings in Namibia focused on energy, critical minerals, infrastructure and investment.
US Ambassador John Giordano was joined by Deputy Under Secretary of Energy Mike Kopp and US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) country manager for Africa and the Middle East Sonja Horgen for meetings with senior Namibian government officials, industry leaders, state-owned enterprises and private-sector partners.
“The future of US-Namibia cooperation in energy and critical minerals has never been brighter. By pairing Namibia's vast natural wealth and stable investment climate with American innovation, capital, and technology, we are building a partnership that delivers secure supply chains for the world and real economic prosperity for both our nations," Ambassador Giordano said.
The delegation represented the United States at the Namibia Mining Expo, where President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah delivered the keynote address.
It also met mines minister Modestus Amutse to discuss ways to expand US-Namibia cooperation in critical minerals, energy infrastructure, high-value industrial investment and emerging technologies.
The delegation held further talks with state-owned enterprises, private-sector companies and energy industry representatives, including NamPower, the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, the Trans-Kalahari Corridor Secretariat, the Rail Project Management Office, the Chamber of Mines, Namdeb, CEN Gas, Deep Yellow, Rhino Resources, the Namibian Energy Institute, the Atomic Energy Board and the Namibian Petroleum Operators Association (NAMPOA).
Energy access and grid resilience
The delegation continued discussions with NamPower and other partners on strengthening Namibia's electricity grid, expanding generation capacity and identifying areas for potential US cooperation in energy planning.
Reliable electricity is important to Namibia's ambitions in mining, industrialisation, digital infrastructure and economic growth. Expanding generation capacity and strengthening the grid are therefore key areas of the bilateral energy relationship.
Critical minerals, rare earth elements and uranium
Namibia is the world's third-largest uranium producer and has significant deposits of strategically important minerals and rare earth elements. The country is therefore becoming increasingly important to global energy and critical mineral supply chains.
The delegation continued discussions with public- and private-sector leaders on investment and regulatory conditions, mineral development, infrastructure and opportunities to increase the value Namibia derives from its natural resources.
USTDA also explored opportunities to support infrastructure projects that could strengthen mineral processing and value-added development, including in the uranium sector.
Offshore oil and gas and logistics hubs
The delegation met leaders from Rhino Resources, Shell and NAMPOA to discuss the development of Namibia's offshore oil and gas industry, as well as investment and infrastructure requirements.
The US delegation said Namibia's emerging oil and gas sector could create opportunities for economic growth and investment, while strengthening the country's position in regional and global energy markets.
The delegation held discussions with the Trans-Kalahari Corridor Secretariat and Walvis Bay Corridor Group on infrastructure, logistics and regional supply chains for clean cooking fuels, including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), critical minerals and other energy commodities.
Civil nuclear energy
The delegation also met senior Namibian officials to discuss the country's civil nuclear ambitions and opportunities for closer US-Namibia cooperation.
The discussions included the potential future role of American microreactor and small modular reactor technologies in meeting Namibia's growing energy needs.
The visit reflects a broader focus in the US-Namibia economic relationship on investment, energy security, critical minerals, infrastructure and commercially driven development.
"This visit reinforced the vast opportunities for US-Namibian partnership in pursuit of shared energy goals, including furthering energy access and security; a robust critical minerals supply chain with local beneficiation; hydrocarbons to support industrialisation; and advancing the civil nuclear energy process," Deputy Under Secretary Kopp said.
