Page 403 – Namibia Daily News

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African Energy Chamber hosts roundtable on seizing Namibian oil and gas opportunities

written by Derdy

By Benjamin Wickham

WINDHOEK, April 25 — The African Energy Chamber (AEC) will host a roundtable discussion at the Namibian International Energy Conference (NIEC) 2023 on April 25, 2023, in Windhoek, Namibia. The roundtable, centred around the theme of “Business Development in Oil and Gas,” aims to explore the opportunities for Namibian businesses in the country’s burgeoning oil and gas industry, while advocating for oil and gas monetization in Africa.

The event will feature speakers, including Robert Mwanachilenga, General Manager of Reconnaissance Energy Namibia, and Anthony Paul, Energy, Policy & Strategy Advisor. The roundtable will focus on local content, discussing opportunities for Namibian-owned businesses and stakeholders, while emphasizing Africa’s vast reserves of crude oil and natural gas as critical resources to provide consistent power supply for over 600 million people currently lacking access to electricity.

Recent developments in the African oil and gas industry, such as the new discoveries made in Namibia and accelerated exploration campaigns in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Ivory Coast, among others, make a strong case for investment opportunities in Africa. The AEC roundtable discussion will provide clear insights into these prospects and the opportunities they present for investors, job prospects, infrastructure rollout, and economic development.

The event will explore how Namibian businesses can seize opportunities created by the discoveries, the opportunities for enhancing the participation of women and youth in the industry, and how businesses and people can build partnerships, forge joint ventures, and drive the industry into a new era of success. The AEC’s recently launched local content office in Namibia will also be discussed, detailing how the office will serve to promote local content and capacity building across the entire energy value chain.

The roundtable will provide a crucial platform for the facilitation of networking and collaboration across the industry, as delegates share insights, experiences, and best practices. Critically, it will promote dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration, serving as the foundation for sustainable growth on the back of industry-focused dialogue and knowledge exchange.

NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC, stated, “The AEC-hosted roundtable discussion at the NIEC 2023 represents a crucial opportunity for driving the conversation around Africa’s oil and gas resources in 2023, energy-transition landscape. Africa cannot afford to leave its oil and gas in the ground. Africa needs these resources to develop, industrialize and electrify its economies, ensuring long-term and sustainable economic progress. Africa’s oil and gas resources give it a competitive edge, and the roundtable will focus on how to invest, where to invest and why to invest in Africa.”

– Namibia Daily News

April 25, 2023 0 comment

ENERGY

AOG 2023: The Future of Angola’s Multi-Faceted Energy Industry

written by Derdy

By Staff Reporter

LUANDA, April 25 — The Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference and exhibition will take place in Luanda for its fourth edition in 2023 under the auspices of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas and in partnership with high-level organizations. The event will unite African energy and petroleum ministers, global investors and thought leaders, and project developers and service companies to discuss the future of Angola’s energy.

Angola’s energy sector is on the brink of transformation. The country is making progress in cementing its position as one of Africa’s leading oil producers with ambitious exploration campaigns. Major players such as TotalEnergies, Sonangol, ExxonMobil, and Chevron are leading exploration campaigns in the country’s three major basins, Kwanza, Namibe, and Lower Congo. The implementation of tax incentives, potential licensing rounds, and new partnership opportunities are opening up the upstream space even further.

Angola is prioritizing scaling up its refining capacity to meet domestic and regional demand. The country is cementing its position as a regional supplier through upgrades to the Luanda refinery and three new facilities under construction in Cabinda, Soyo, and Lobito. Angola is making a strong play for natural gas monetization through the development of the Angola Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project, the Quiluma/Maboqueiro gas fields, the Cameia-Golfinho project, and the Sanha Lean Gas project, among others. Plans are underway to maximize gas for power generation purposes with the development of a second combined cycle plant for Soyo that will produce 500 MW in addition to the existing 720 MW Soyo I project.

Angola’s renewable energy market is also seeing transformation owing to heightened investment by regional and global players. Players to the likes of TotalEnergies are diversifying portfolios to include solar energy, and companies such as Novonor, Andtriz Hydro, Voith and GE Renewable, and many others are capitalizing on the countries over 100 hydro locations identified by the Ministry of Energy and Water.

The AOG 2023 conference will drive deals and partnerships and accelerate developments across the entire Angolan energy value chain. Advanced networking opportunities ensure the trend of investing in Angola not only continues but is accelerated. Last year, deals were signed between Angola’s National Agency for Oil, Gas and Biofuels and Sierra Leone’s Petroleum Directorate, the respective energy ministries of Angola and Namibia, as well as the ministries of Equatorial Guinea and the DRC.

This year’s edition of the conference will focus on infrastructure and onshore prospects, as well as the renewable, local content, and technology sectors. The conference invites existing and potential energy players to capitalize on Angolan opportunities. – Namibia Daily News

April 25, 2023 0 comment

Politics

High-Level Corruption Uncovered in Windhoek’s Huawei Smart City Deal

written by Derdy

NDN Staffer

WINDHOEK, April 25 — A “smart city” deal between the City of Windhoek and Huawei Communications has been hit by allegations of serious fraud, attempted fraud, and corruption involving millions of dollars at the highest levels. A leaked document marked “Extremely Confidential” and dated 27 January 2021 has exposed a concerted effort by multiple parties to defraud not only the residents of Windhoek but also the City of Windhoek itself. The report has raised concerns about possible high-level fraud and corruption.

The saga began in 2020 when Paratus Telecom protested against the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia’s (CRAN) decision to issue the City of Windhoek with a Comprehensive Telecommunications Service Licence. Paratus argued that the processes were never followed, which was not followed by the industry regulator.

In June 2020, Brunhilde Cornelius, a former Windhoek City Councillor, stated in a sworn affidavit that she was offered a bribe by a local politician to ensure that Huawei would win an exclusive contract to build the 5G telecommunication network in Windhoek. Cornelius claimed that she was offered between N$5 and N$6 million from a slush fund of N$40 million to drop her objections and allow the city council to approve the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

According to the leaked document, the City of Windhoek’s Chief Executive Officer requested that the Internal Audit Division conduct an independent investigation into the allegations of bribery against the Strategic Executive: Information and Communication Technology after a Management Committee meeting held on 21 July 2020. The CEO also requested that Huawei’s 5G MoU be suspended indefinitely.

The leaked internal audit document addressed to the Acting CEO of CoW found that the planning of the Fibre Optic Network Project was highly challenged, with non-compliance to the Public Procurement Act of 2015, the Public Private Partnership Act of 2017, council-approved guidelines and resolutions, as well as incorrect and misleading reporting to the Management Committee and Council. The shareholding in the project was defined, but the crucial equity was not valued and defined.

The City of Windhoek would not financially benefit from the project without equity contribution to a Special Purpose Vehicle created to separate business operations from the council. The separation would ensure that the entity is managed on the best business principles in conjunction with the private sector and other stakeholders and to ringfence risks.

The leaked document further states that the attempted procurement of goods and services from Huawei Communications via an MoU was in contravention of the Public Procurement Act and that the ICT executive’s submission of such a document to the council was wrong and irregular. The honesty and integrity of the ICT executive were highly compromised, which could have been counterproductive to the successful implementation of the project.

The leaked document recommended that disciplinary action be taken against the ICT executive and five other executives, that the overpayment of N$50 743 made to the law firm be recovered, and that future invoices be approved by the corporate legal division to ensure proper checks and balances. The allegations of fraud, attempted fraud, and corruption have raised serious concerns about the “smart city” deal between the City of Windhoek and Huawei Communications.

– Namibia Daily News

April 25, 2023 0 comment

Education

Bank Windhoek and Capricorn Foundation Host Mathematics Teachers Initiative

written by Derdy

By Staff Reporter

WINDHOEK, April 25 — Bank Windhoek and the Capricorn Foundation are teaming up to host a Grade 4 Mathematics Teachers Initiative in Windhoek from April 25 to April 26, 2023. With the support of the Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture, the initiative aims to invest in the education of Namibian youth.

As part of Bank Windhoek’s 40th-anniversary celebration, the workshop will bring together 27 teachers from across the country to improve their skills in understanding the mathematics syllabus better. The teachers will receive a certificate upon completion of the training and can use these skills to enhance the academic results of learners enrolled in Grade 4.

The workshop will be facilitated by four Heads of the Departments of Mathematics and Science in their respective schools, Ismael Ntopoli, Dumi Litwayi, Ronnellie Guriras, and Sofia Haipinge. They will work together to find strategies to overcome challenging topics in the Namibian syllabus and share educational games to improve the results and make mathematics exciting.

Marlize Horn, the Executive Officer of the Capricorn Foundation, expressed her pride in partnering with Bank Windhoek on this initiative, saying that education is one of the key focus areas of the Capricorn Foundation. Bank Windhoek’s Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Sponsorships, Bronwyn Moody, highlighted that the initiative is an example of a public-private partnership and a demonstration of the bank’s commitment to giving back to the communities in which it operates. – Namibia Daily News

April 25, 2023 0 comment

Economics

NamPower’s Request for Tariff Increase Draws Concerns Over Impact on Namibians

written by Derdy

By Staff Reporter

WINDHOEK, April 25 — Namibia’s state-owned electricity provider, NamPower, has requested an increase in tariffs of 16.87 percent due to significant challenges it faced in the previous fiscal year. The Electricity Control Board will consider the application by April 30 after a meeting held on March 31.

NamPower has a history of performing well, but recorded a loss of N$1.2 billion for the year ending June 30, 2022, compared to a profit of N$1.2 billion in 2021. The chairman of the board, Daniel Motinga, attributed this significant loss to a 14 percent increase in the cost of electricity generation, rising from N$4.5 billion to N$5.1 billion during the fiscal year.

Additionally, low rainfall in the Kunene River catchment area resulted in reduced generating capacity at the Ruacana plant. It generated only 781 gigawatt-hours, compared to 1,505 in the 2019-20 fiscal year, contributing to less than 20 percent of the total demand for electricity.

If granted, the tariff increase will add more pressure on consumers already struggling to make ends meet. Namibians are already grappling with high unemployment rates and rising inflation, and an increase in the cost of electricity will only exacerbate the situation.

While NamPower’s request for a tariff increase may be justifiable, the Electricity Control Board must also consider its impact on Namibians. The board must ensure that the tariff increase is reasonable and does not place an undue burden on consumers.

Namibians are calling on the government to find alternative solutions to address NamPower’s challenges. The government must invest in renewable energy sources to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and ensure a sustainable energy supply.

In conclusion, NamPower’s request for a tariff increase highlights the challenges faced by the electricity supplier. However, the Electricity Control Board must consider the impact on consumers and ensure that the tariff increase is reasonable. The government must also invest in renewable energy sources to address the country’s energy needs sustainably.

– Namibia Daily News

April 25, 2023 0 comment

CRIME

When Faith Turns Fatal: The Horrific Mass Suicide in a Kenyan Church

written by Derdy

Staff Writer

NAIROBI, April 25 — In a tragic development, over 70 bodies have been discovered in mass graves in a forest in Kenya. According to reports, the deceased were members of the Good News International Church who were convinced by their leaders to fast and ultimately starve themselves in order to reach heaven before the end of the world. The authorities were alerted to the situation by Haki Africa, a local rights organization, and have so far exhumed 39 bodies with a confirmed death toll of 58. The Red Cross has reported 112 people missing, leading to fears that the final count may be even higher. While 29 survivors have been found, some were reluctant to be rescued due to their belief at the end of the world.

Pastor Makenzie Nthenge, the head of the Good News International Church, has been charged in connection with the deaths of two children whose parents had joined the church. President William Ruto, a devout Christian himself, has denounced Nthenge, describing him as someone who “does not belong to any religion”. Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki has called the situation a “massacre”. Experts like theologian and psychologist Dr James Kipsang Barngetuny have pointed out the issue with the proliferation of unregulated small churches in Kenya that allow unscrupulous leaders to manipulate people’s beliefs for their own gain.

The country, which is predominantly Christian, with 85% of the population identifying as such, has been shocked by the discovery of the mass graves. There is a growing concern regarding how so many individuals could willingly starve themselves to death and the reasons behind their tragic actions. The search and rescue operation in the forest is ongoing, with locals coming forward to report missing relatives. The full extent of this tragedy is yet to be fully revealed, as investigators continue to examine the evidence. – Namibia Daily News

April 25, 2023 0 comment

Education

NUST and NAPWU in talks to resolve staff concerns

written by Derdy

By Staff Reporter

WINDHOEK, April 25 — Last Thursday, April 20, 2023, the management of Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) held a meeting with the Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU) to discuss issues raised in a letter written by NAPWU about a month ago. This meeting marks the first in a series of planned meetings that will take place between NUST Management and NAPWU to address various concerns raised by the Union on behalf of the staff.

Initially, the Union had addressed its concerns to the NUST Council, but they were instructed to engage with NUST Management first. If NUST Management and NAPWU are unable to resolve certain issues, matters will be escalated to the NUST Council.

Senior members from both the University and the Union attended the first meeting, which mainly focused on planning and proposed dates for future meetings. The second meeting is scheduled to take place in early May.

NUST and NAPWU have a Recognition Agreement that gives NAPWU exclusive bargaining power, which dates back to 2012, long before NUST transitioned from a Polytechnic into a University. – Namibia Daily News

April 25, 2023 0 comment

Energy

Namibia’s Hydrocarbons Sector Poised to Replace Mining as Most Attractive Industry

written by Derdy

By Staff Reporter

WINDHOEK, April 24 — Namibia’s deepwater hydrocarbon resources are attracting significant foreign investment from international oil companies (IOCs), as demonstrated by the recent Jonker-1X light oil discovery in the Orange Basin, made by Shell, QatarEnergy, and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR). This marks the third discovery in a string of exploration successes announced in the past year, including the Graff-1X and Venus-1X finds. These discoveries prove the size and scope of Namibia’s deepwater hydrocarbon resources, which are expected to fuel the growth of the Namibian economy.

The energy and petroleum sector in Namibia is experiencing heightened interest and commitments from IOCs in its frontier basins, with companies such as QatarEnergy holding interests in three Orange Basin Exploration Licenses covering over 28,000 km². A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently signed between QatarEnergy and Namibia’s Ministry of Energy and Mines to promote continued cooperation between the two countries in knowledge sharing, workforce development, and upstream investments. This MoU represents one of several bilateral agreements forged between Namibia and international partners in the past year, signalling growing partnership and investment opportunities within Namibia’s oil and gas sector.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to Namibia’s hydrocarbons sector have witnessed significant growth, rising to $338 million in Q2 of last year due to an influx of equity capital for exploration activities. Although the mining industry remains Namibia’s largest draw of FDI inflows, the Jonker-1X, Venus-1X, and Graff-1X discoveries reflect rising foreign investment into Namibia’s hydrocarbons sector, which could replace mining as the country’s most attractive industry.

Business-friendly policies will be critical to ensuring development across Namibia’s energy sector, with green hydrogen, solar, and wind projects expected to be funded and actualized through foreign investment secured through hydrocarbons and the reinvestment of earnings by some IOCs into other sectors. To attract new FDI, the Namibian government has implemented policies such as the Namibia Investment Promotion Act (2016) and a series of tax incentives that may be made newly available to additional industries across the energy sector. Existing FDI is governed under the Foreign Investment Act of 1990, which outlines the equal treatment of foreign and domestic firms, expropriation compensation, and steps for international dispute arbitration.

As the latest offshore oil discoveries progress towards large-scale development, Namibia is well-positioned to attract significant FDI flows to its nascent energy sector, triggering growth across its national economy. These developments and others within Namibia’s energy industry and the entire extractive sector will be further explored in the upcoming Energy Invest Namibia report. – Namibia Daily News

April 24, 2023 0 comment

WILDLIFE

India’s ‘Project Cheetah’ faces challenges as two big cats die within a month

written by Derdy

NDN Staffer

Bhopal/Sheopur, Apr 24 — The death of a second cheetah in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park has raised concerns about the ambitious ‘Project Cheetah’, aimed at reintroducing the big cats in India. Uday, a six-year-old cheetah that was brought from South Africa as part of the project, died after falling ill on Sunday. The loss of Uday, two months after he arrived in India, follows the death of Sasha, one of the eight cheetahs translocated from Namibia last year. The loss of two cheetahs is seen as a major setback for the project, which aims to establish a new cheetah population in India by importing 12-14 big cats from South Africa and other African countries.

Currently, only 18 cheetahs remain of the 20 that were brought to India in the world’s first intercontinental translocation project. The cause of Uday’s death will be determined after the post-mortem, and the recent incidents have highlighted the need for better monitoring and care of the animals during the translocation process. South Africa has also signed an agreement with India to introduce dozens of African cheetahs to the Asian country over the next decade, and it’s imperative to ensure that the health and welfare of the animals are adequately taken care of during the translocation process.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first eight cheetahs brought from Namibia at Kuno National Park on his birthday last year. The second batch of 12 cheetahs from South Africa arrived in India on February 17, 2023. The project aims to have a founder stock of cheetahs for five years initially and then import more as required by the programme.

– Namibia Daily News

April 24, 2023 0 comment

Energy

Germany plans to reduce reliance on China by sourcing minerals from Namibia, Indonesia and Chile

written by Derdy

By Staff reporter

BERLIN, April 24 — Germany is set to assist mineral-rich countries, such as Namibia, Indonesia, and Chile, to build their processing infrastructure as it aims to reduce its dependence on China for key inputs such as nickel and other critical minerals. German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has announced that the country aims to locate more processing steps where the raw materials are sourced, which would create greater local prosperity and ensure that Germany has more than just one supplier in the future. This move towards self-sufficiency comes as Germany tries to rebalance its relationship with China.

Namibia, a lithium-rich African country, is trying to develop processing and refining industries to capture more of the profits of global demand for battery material. Lithium prices and demand have soared as the auto industry shifts towards electric vehicles (EVs) spurred by proposed bans on fossil-fuel cars beginning at the end of the decade. China currently dominates the supply chain, but Western governments and international companies are trying to challenge that and see Africa’s lithium reserves as an opportunity. In February, Namibia’s mines minister, Tom Alweendo, announced that all lithium mined within the country has to be processed in the country.

The German government has agreed to invest in Namibia’s green hydrogen sector through scholarships and pilot projects. Germany’s green hydrogen envoy, Rainer Baake, said his country is keen on supporting Namibia’s ambitions of achieving large-scale, low-cost renewable energy development and designing models for sustainably maximizing fiscal revenue. This would boost local development in renewable energy investments and green ammonia production. Namibia can expect a stable market for its new green products in Europe, mainly because the EU has set emission reduction targets that their various industries have to meet.

Germany’s willingness to assist mineral-rich countries in building their processing infrastructure is a positive step towards achieving greater self-sufficiency and reducing the reliance on China for key inputs. This move towards self-sufficiency is particularly important as the world shifts towards EVs and the demand for critical minerals such as lithium increases. By investing in Namibia’s green hydrogen sector and supporting its ambitions of achieving large-scale, low-cost renewable energy development, Germany is not only helping to reduce its reliance on China but is also helping to promote sustainable development in Namibia. – Namibia Daily News

April 24, 2023 0 comment

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African Energy Chamber hosts roundtable on seizing Namibian oil and gas opportunities

AOG 2023: The Future of Angola’s Multi-Faceted Energy Industry

High-Level Corruption Uncovered in Windhoek’s Huawei Smart City Deal

Bank Windhoek and Capricorn Foundation Host Mathematics Teachers Initiative

NamPower’s Request for Tariff Increase Draws Concerns Over Impact on Namibians

When Faith Turns Fatal: The Horrific Mass Suicide in a Kenyan Church

NUST and NAPWU in talks to resolve staff concerns

Namibia’s Hydrocarbons Sector Poised to Replace Mining as Most Attractive Industry

India’s ‘Project Cheetah’ faces challenges as two big cats die within a month

Germany plans to reduce reliance on China by sourcing minerals from Namibia, Indonesia and Chile