Observer Money

Staff Writer  TFG Marine and ZeroNorth have completed the first trial of an electronic bunker delivery notice solution at Port Louis, marking the first use of the technology in Mauritius. The electronic bunker delivery notice, known as eBDN, digitises the bunker delivery process to improve transparency and simplify fuel supply operations. The Mauritius trial builds on TFG Marine’s existing eBDN programme developed with ZeroNorth. The system was first introduced in Singapore and later expanded to the Middle East through a trial at the Port of Sohar in Oman. TFG Marine said the technology supports wider adoption of digital bunkering standards…

Chamwe Kaira  Food prices continued to differ across Namibia’s three zones in April as the country’s annual inflation rate stood at 3.1%, down from 3.6% recorded in April 2025. On a monthly basis, inflation increased to 1.1% from 0.2% in March, while core inflation stood at 2.8%. According to the latest zonal average price data released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), consumers in different regions paid varying prices for basic food items such as flour, meat, fruit and cooking oil. White bread flour prices ranged from N$48.94 for a 2.5 kg bag in zone three, covering the ||Karas, Erongo,…

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia’s residential property market continued to grow during the first quarter of 2026, although house price growth and transaction activity showed signs of slowing. According to the latest FNB Namibia house price index report, the national house price index increased by 7.1% on a 12-month average basis. FNB Namibia’s market research manager Mandisa Van Wyk said the figure reflects slower growth compared to the 7.6% recorded at the end of 2025 and the 9.4% peak seen in early 2025. The national weighted average house price increased to N$1.44 million from N$1.42 million in the previous quarter. The luxury…

Chamwe Kaira  The Swakopmund Municipality has tabled a combined operational and capital budget of about N$704 million for the 2026/2027 financial year, while proposing a 5% increase in municipal service tariffs. The budget was presented during a council session by management committee chairperson Eddy Angula. The municipality proposed an operational budget of more than N$600 million and a capital budget of N$104 million. In the previous financial year, the municipality approved an operational budget of N$602 million and a capital budget of N$131 million. The new budget reflects a decrease of N$2.7 million in operational spending and N$27.1 million in…

Staff Writer  The European Union (EU) has extended its strategic partnership roadmap with Namibia to 2030 and announced new investments focused on renewable energy, critical raw materials and industrial development. The announcement was made during the second Namibia–EU Business Forum held in Windhoek on Tuesday. Bilateral trade between Namibia and the EU reached N$17.6 billion in 2025, supporting sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, charcoal, beef processing, table grapes and locally processed minerals. The EU said Namibia’s exports to European markets support more than 46 000 jobs across the country. EU commissioner for environment, water resilience and a competitive circular economy…

Staff Writer  Ultimate Safaris has rebranded to ultimate.earth as part of a new focus on conservation, community empowerment and environmental impact across Africa. The company said the name change reflects a shift beyond traditional safari tourism and positions the brand around protecting natural ecosystems while supporting local communities and sustainable development. Ultimate.earth's managing director Tristan Cowley said the company remains committed to conservation, tourism and community partnerships. “For almost two decades, we have built a reputation for pioneering conservation tourism experiences rooted in authenticity, responsible travel, and meaningful partnerships with local communities and conservancies,” Cowley said. “This is more than…

Chamwe Kaira  Canadian exploration company Ongwe Minerals Incorporated says new drilling results at its Manga prospect in the Erongo region are showing signs of a larger gold discovery than initially expected. The Manga prospect forms part of the company’s Omatjete Gold project, one of three main gold projects Ongwe is developing in Namibia alongside the Khorixas and Outjo projects. The company said recent bedrock drilling confirmed a 2-kilometre-long underground gold zone at Manga. Gold values from the latest samples ranged from low levels to a high of 470 parts per billion, with 20 samples recording more than 100 parts per…

Staff Writer Old Mutual Namibia has partnered with Eureka Psychology for the 2026 Employee Wellness Indaba, which will take place in Windhoek on 20 and 21 May. The event will be held under the theme “Well-being by Design: Building the Future Workplace”. The Indaba aims to highlight the importance of integrating employee well-being into workplace systems and organisational culture. Eureka Psychology founder Ceaseria Mutau said companies are being encouraged to move beyond basic wellness programmes and focus more on how workplace environments affect employee health, well-being and performance. The event comes as more attention is being placed on workplace well-being…

Chamwe Kaira  Koryx Copper S.A. has filed a new technical report for its wholly owned Haib Copper Project in southern Namibia, including an updated mineral resource estimate for the project. The company said the report was filed on SEDAR+ and prepared by independent consultants from The MSA Group and DRA Projects Europe. The updated report replaces the company’s earlier Preliminary Economic Assessment released in October 2025. Koryx Copper plans to publish a new preliminary economic assessment before the end of the second quarter of 2026. The company also plans to complete 50 000 metres of additional drilling at the Haib…

Chamwe Kaira  Walvis Bay handled exports worth N$6.9 billion in March, maintaining its position as Namibia’s leading export gateway, according to trade statistics released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA). Eros Airport followed with exports valued at N$2.7 billion, while the Katima Mulilo border post recorded N$1.8 billion in outbound trade. Walvis Bay also remained the country’s main import entry point, processing imports worth N$6 billion.  The Ariamsvlei border post handled imports valued at N$3.3 billion, while the Trans-Kalahari border post processed N$2.4 billion, reflecting the continued role of both coastal and land trade routes. Sea transport accounted for N$7.1…