Blog – Page 13 – Windhoek Observer

16 Apr

COASTAL OBSERVER | New climate policy talks begin in Erongo

Featured, National News

Renthia Kaimbi The Erongo Regional Council has started consultations to update Namibia’s climate policy. The discussions took place during a stakeholder workshop held on 9 and 10 April in Swakopmund. The meeting forms part of a national process to review the 2011 National Policy on Climate Change and align it with current challenges and commitments. The workshop brought together officials from the Erongo Regional Council, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF), as well as technical experts and development partners. Participants discussed policy gaps, coordination and implementation. The draft policy shows that Namibia…

16 Apr

COASTAL OBSERVER | Erongo leaders visit Langer Heinrich mine

Featured, National News

Renthia Kaimbi Erongo governor Nathalia ||Goagoses led a delegation from the Erongo Regional Council on a visit to the Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine on Tuesday to engage with the mining company and review its operations. The delegation included six constituency councillors from Walvis Bay Urban, Walvis Bay Rural, Arandis, Omaruru and Karibib, as well as chief regional officer Sam Ntelamo and other senior officials. The visit started with a meeting where managing director Johan Roux and his team received the delegation. Scott Barber from Paladin Energy also attended. Company officials, including the safety officer, human resources team and mine manager,…

16 Apr

COASTAL OBSERVER | Youth programme supports 17 young entrepreneurs

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Seventeen young entrepreneurs in Swakopmund have received support to start and grow their businesses under the Youth Entrepreneurial Development Initiative (YEDI). The programme is led by the municipality of Swakopmund in partnership with the Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine. The handover took place on Wednesday as part of ongoing efforts to address youth unemployment and support local business growth. Beneficiaries received tools, equipment and other resources suited to their businesses. The support allows them to move from planning to operating. Chairperson of the management committee Eddy Angula said the programme is helping young people create jobs. “Today marks yet…

16 Apr

Door opens: Sintana’s NSX listing brings Namibia closer to owning its oil future

Editorial

The announcement that Sintana Energy intends to list on the Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX) should be welcomed as a timely and strategic development in Namibia’s unfolding oil and gas story. At a moment when global attention is fixed on the country’s offshore discoveries, this move signals a shift from passive anticipation to active participation, giving ordinary Namibians a chance to claim a stake in what could become one of the defining economic transformations of the post-independence era. For years, Namibia’s hydrocarbon potential remained largely speculative. That changed dramatically following a series of major offshore discoveries by international energy companies, positioning…

16 Apr

Sintana plans listing on Namibian Stock Exchange

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Sintana Energy Incorporated plans to list on the Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX) as it moves to open investment opportunities to local investors. The company has appointed IJG Securities as its sponsor and corporate advisor. It has also started discussions with the exchange to be admitted for trading. Once listed, the company plans to explore ways to improve share liquidity for Namibian investors. The director of Sintana and chairman of Custos Energy Knowledge Katti said the listing is part of a long-term goal to increase local ownership in the energy sector. “It has always been my vision to see…

16 Apr

Gold explorer Ongwe begins trading on NSX

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Ongwe Minerals Incorporated has completed all requirements for a dual listing on the Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX), with trading set to begin on Wednesday. The company is a Canadian-listed gold exploration firm focused on finding and developing gold deposits in Namibia. Its primary listing will remain on the TSX Venture Exchange. Ongwe Minerals chief executive officer Dave Underwood said the listing strengthens the company’s presence in Namibia’s capital markets. “The dual listing of Ongwe on the Namibian Securities Exchange is a very important step in building Ongwe’s local Namibian capital markets presence. Ongwe is fortunate to have a…

16 Apr

Agriculture, forestry, fishing expected to recover

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Bank of Namibia (BoN) says agriculture, forestry and fishing are expected to recover during the forecast period, supported by improved rainfall and better crop production. The central bank said in its March 2026 economic outlook that livestock production will recover more slowly. This is due to herd rebuilding after earlier drought conditions forced farmers to reduce stock. The mining sector is expected to show mixed performance. Diamond mining is projected to remain under pressure due to weak global demand and lower production. Uranium production is expected to stay high, supported by strong demand and prices, although growth…

16 Apr

Diverging fortunes in banking sector

Observer Money

Staff Writer Namibia’s listed banking sector is showing mixed performance, with some banks growing while others face pressure, according to Simonis Storm Securities. FirstRand Namibia reported headline earnings of N$1.066 billion for the first half of FY2026. Return on equity reached 30.2%. Total assets declined by 2.6% after the bank exited its asset and liability management hedge. Key indicators improved. The net interest margin rose to 6.3%. The credit loss ratio improved to 0.4%. Non-performing loans dropped to 4.3%. The firm said the performance was supported by changes in funding. Franchise deposits increased by 9.4%. Institutional funding fell by 26.7%.…

16 Apr

Real estate, consumer stocks lead local, JSE indices rebound

Observer Money

Staff Writer Market indices in Namibia and South Africa recovered on Tuesday after losses in the previous session, data from the Namibian Securities Exchange shows. The JSE all share index rose 1.10% to close at 119,795.83 points, recovering from a 0.45% decline recorded on 13 April. The index remains 3.42% higher than its level in December 2025, although still below its 2026 high. In Namibia, the overall index increased by 1.29% to 2,290.09 points, reversing a 0.15% drop in the previous session. The index has gained 6.95% since December 2025. The Local Index showed little movement, rising 0.06% to 827.78…

16 Apr

Mining drop not as bad as reported — Mining chamber

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Chamber of Mines of Namibia says the scale of the mining sector contraction reported by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) may be overstated. NSA reported that mining and quarrying contracted by 9.4% in 2025. The decline was driven by a 19.4% drop in diamond mining, along with contractions of 12.2% in metal ores and 14.5% in other mining activities. The Chamber said this does not fully reflect production trends. Gold output increased by about 5% in 2025, while uranium production rose by around 23%. These increases would usually offset declines in diamonds. Metal ores, including gold and…