Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA De Beers remains on track for sale as parent company Anglo American continues to streamline the diamond business and cut costs in response to challenging global diamond market conditions. Anglo American chief executive officer Duncan Wanblad said the company is advancing the sale process for De Beers while implementing measures to improve its cost performance and reduce capital expenditure to lessen the impact of weak diamond demand. “We are also advancing the sale process for De Beers alongside streamlining opportunities to improve its cost performance and reduce capital expenditure to minimise the impact from challenging diamond markets,” Wanblad…

CHAMWE KAIRA  Namibia’s sheep industry is facing a temporary processing disruption after Farmers Meat Market (FMM) in Mariental, the country’s only export-approved sheep abattoir, suspended slaughter operations amid rising costs, high inventory levels and challenges in export markets. A research analysis by Simonis Storm Research said the disruption should be viewed as a processing and market access challenge rather than a collapse of the sheep sector. The firm said information disclosed by FMM points to four key issues including disrupted slaughter schedules, higher local procurement prices combined with exchange rate pressures, stock holdings reaching about 90% capacity, and ongoing negotiations…

In line with efforts to boost Southern African Development Community (SADC) trade and financial integration, Lesetja Kganyago, Governor of the South African Reserve Bank and Chairperson of the SADC Committee of Central Bank Governors (CCBG), and Manuel Tiago Dias, Governor of the Banco Nacional de Angola, on 27 July 2026 formally announced the introduction of the Angolan kwanza as a settlement currency in the SADC real-time gross settlement (SADC-RTGS) system. The kwanza’s inclusion supports regional payments modernization efforts and aligns with the Group of Twenty’s (G20) cross-border payment goals of reducing costs, increasing speed and improving efficiency in cross-border transactions.…

From ancient copper traders to offshore diamonds and uranium that powers the world, Namibia’s mining story is one of resilience, wealth and unfinished ambition. Long before Namibia became known as one of Africa’s most stable mining jurisdictions, before giant haul trucks carved through open pits or ships vacuumed diamonds from the Atlantic seabed, the country’s mineral wealth was already shaping the lives of its people. For centuries, indigenous communities extracted copper, iron, salt and ochre from the land. Copper from the Tsumeb region was fashioned into tools and ornaments, iron ore became weapons and agricultural implements, while salt was traded…

Can lithium power Namibia’s next mining boom? A century ago, Namibia’s fortunes were transformed by diamonds. Half a century later, uranium established the country as a strategic player in the global energy market. Today, another mineral is attracting investors from around the world, triggering exploration licences, multimillion-dollar acquisitions and renewed optimism across the mining sector. Its name is lithium. Often called “white gold”, lithium has become one of the world’s most sought-after minerals, not because of its rarity, but because it sits at the heart of the global transition to clean energy.  Every electric vehicle, smartphone, laptop, tablet and large-scale…

Inside Namibia’s billion-dollar exploration rush, and why an Exclusive Prospecting Licence is not the lottery ticket many believe it to be There are few documents in Namibia today that generate as much excitement, speculation and misunderstanding as an Exclusive Prospecting Licence, better known simply as an EPL. For some, it represents the promise of unimaginable wealth. For others, it is little more than a piece of paper that unlocks conversations with foreign investors. Every week, stories circulate of individuals who have “struck it rich” after securing an EPL, fuelling the perception that obtaining one is the quickest route to becoming…

How a global slump, lab-grown diamonds and the possible sale of De Beers are forcing Namibia to rethink one of the pillars of its economy For more than a century, diamonds have been synonymous with Namibia’s prosperity. They built Oranjemund from a windswept settlement into one of southern Africa’s most exclusive mining towns. They financed roads, schools and hospitals, generated billions of Namibia dollars in export earnings and established Namibia as one of the world’s most respected producers of gem-quality diamonds. Few industries have shaped the country’s economy as profoundly. Today, however, the sparkle has dimmed. The global diamond industry…

CHAMWE KAIRA Deep Yellow, which is developing the Tumas uranium project, has continued to work closely with its mandated lead arranger, Nedbank Limited, to progress the financing strategy for Tumas.  The company disclosed that completion of the Independent Technical Expert review satisfies the lenders initial due diligence requirements.  Nedbank is now waiting on Deep Yellow to advise the required debt facility amount, which will be determined as part of the optimal funding structure closer to the Final Investment Decision (FID).  Deep Yellow has continued to advance the staged development of the Tumas Project, achieving key milestones that further de-risk execution,…

CHAMWE KAIRA Among the major projects contributing to Namibia’s strong greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) performance in 2025 was Nopal Carbon Farming, which invested approximately N$66 million towards large-scale carbon farming and biofuel production on degraded land. The Kokoseb Gold Project also contributed significantly, attracting about N$381 million in investment as it advances one of Namibia’s promising new gold discoveries towards potential mine development. Other notable investments included ISPS Solar Operations Namibia, which realised approximately N$180 million through the development of a 10.75-megawatt solar photovoltaic facility supplying clean energy to mining operations, while Kudu Biomass invested around N$120 million in…

CHAMWE KAIRA  The Namibia Post Ltd Group says it has successfully cushioned the continued decline in its traditional postal business by expanding its financial services operations and developing new revenue streams, even as letter volumes and post box usage continue to fall. The Namibia Post Ltd Group has three business units, which together comprise NamPost Ltd (NamPost or the company). The Group includes NamPost Financial Brokers (Pty) Ltd (PostFin), a 100% owned subsidiary. The state-owned postal operator reported that mail volumes remained at 5.9 million items in 2025, while post office box occupancy declined further to 45%, down from 50%…