Niël Terblanché
In a strategic move aimed at bolstering Namibia’s emerging oil and gas sector, President Nangolo Mbumba announced that the country will draw valuable insights from Angola’s industry framework.
The President made the declaration upon his return from a one-day official working visit to Angola earlier this week. The visit marked a crucial step in Namibia’s journey towards developing its oil and gas industry.
During his visit, President Mbumba toured the Sonangol Integrated Logistics Services (SONILS) at the Port of Luanda, a crucial hub that exemplifies Angola’s sophisticated approach to oil and gas logistics and services.
SONILS, a partnership between Angola’s state oil company, Sonangol EP, and the Port of Luanda EP, showcases a model of operational excellence with its cargo handling services, engineering, and specialized facility development for the oil and gas sector.
Highlighting the importance of this visit, President Mbumba stressed Namibia’s intent to replicate a similar integrated logistics base in collaboration with Sonangol, the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), and the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport).
He said the initiative, inspired by SONILS’ success, aims to significantly enhance the infrastructure and services supporting Namibia’s oil and gas industries.
The visit also served as an opportunity for President Mbumba to express his gratitude towards President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço and the Angolan government for their support following the passing of President Hage Geingob.
The Namibian Head of State praised President Lourenço for his presence during the memorial and burial services, reflecting the deep-rooted friendship and solidarity between the two nations.
Mbumba’s journey to Angola also symbolized a continuation of a longstanding tradition among Namibian heads of state, reaffirming the strong ties and mutual respect between Namibia and Angola.
The lessons drawn from Angola’s experience and the ongoing collaboration between the two countries will undoubtedly play a critical role in shaping a prosperous future for Namibia’s energy landscape.
This visit not only emphasized the technical and strategic aspects of Namibia’s oil and gas industry aspirations but also reinforced the cultural and diplomatic bonds that Namibia and Angola share.
