Govt, Austrian firm seal N$400m pipe plant deal
Nida’s contribution a plot of land at the coast
Nida's acting CEO Richwell Lukonga has confirmed the deal, adding that Nida, NamWater and the Austrian company have already signed a non-disclosure agreement.
The Namibian government, through the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida) and bulk water supplier NamWater, is partnering with an Austrian company to establish a N$400 million pipe manufacturing plant in Walvis Bay.
The company, Amiblu, which is headquartered in Austria and specialises in the design and production of glass fibre-reinforced polyester (GRP) pipes, is the investor in the multimillion-dollar deal.
The agreement reportedly marks a significant step in boosting Namibia’s industrial capacity.
Nida’s acting chief executive officer, Richwell Lukonga, confirmed the deal to Namibian Sun, adding that the three parties – Nida, NamWater and Amiblu – have already signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
“What is important right now is to understand that Nida is an investment agency. We have investors that have been coming into the country over the years. So we should embrace the opportunity,” Lukonga said.
According to him, Nida’s contribution to the joint venture is a five-hectare plot of land at Walvis Bay, where the plant will be built.
“Nida has identified a portion of land to establish one of the biggest manufacturing plants in Namibia,” he confirmed.
A groundbreaking ceremony of the project, valued at close to N$400 million, is expected to take place later this year, he added.
“This is not a small investor. Amiblu has been in operation for years. We will be shareholders in the venture,” Lukonga explained.
Worldwide operations
Lukonga added that the investment aligns with Nida’s industrialisation mandate.
“We will create jobs, and we will benefit from dividend payouts and so many other opportunities."
Amiblu is recognised for its Hobas and Flowtite GRP piping systems, which are utilised worldwide in sustainable water and industrial infrastructure.
The company has manufacturing operations in Germany, Spain, Poland and Romania.
The company also has a footprint in Africa, where it manufactures pipes in Morocco.
It has also worked in Dakar, Senegal, where it supplied 8 000 meters of GRP drainage pipes for a Bus Rapid Transit project.
Trip to Spain raises eyebrows
Although based in Austria, Amiblu operates a production facility in Camarles in the Spanish province of Tarragona. The facility is the company's only site in Spain.
Earlier this month, Nida spent over N$420 000 on a one-week trip to Spain for its top executives to familiarise themselves with Amiblu’s factory operations, according to documents.
This is despite ongoing concerns about the parastatal’s financial difficulties.
The trip, which took place from 6 to 13 June, included Lukonga, Nida board chairperson Sebulon Kankondi, board director Thaddius Maswahu and strategy consultant Inyemba Kamwi.
Documents seen by Namibian Sun show that Kamwi and Maswahu each received N$50 882 in allowances, while Kankondi and Lukonga received N$49 282 each. An additional N$166 061 was spent on international air tickets.
The timing and cost of the trip have raised eyebrows among employees and observers, especially amid persistent claims of financial instability within the agency.
In July last year, Nida workers staged a strike demanding salary increases and improved working conditions, accusing management of allocating resources to executive benefits while neglecting staff welfare.
There have also been ongoing reports of delayed salary payments and disruptions to essential services, including electricity at employee housing units.
Trip justified
Lukonga has defended the trip, saying that it was necessary.
“We had to go there as part of the due diligence process. We needed to go and see what are some of the operations this company has, how are their technology, and who are we really partnering with, so this trip was necessary,” Lukonga said.
He rubbished claims that Nida is experiencing financial instability.
“There has never been a situation where we are not paying our third parties or salaries. That's the trend I found here before I came. But people want that status quo to continue,” he said.
He told Namibian Sun that by 2027, Nida’s target is to start production.
“The investor is coming next month, and then we finalise the agreement. They have already appointed local engineers to work on the designs. Our target is that come 2027, we should be able to start the first manufacturing.
“They are funding the project. Our only contribution is to avail land. So there is nothing sinister about it,” he emphasised.
Nida was established to spearhead industrialisation in Namibia, aiming to drive economic growth and create jobs. It was established by Act 16 of 2016 and operates as a state-owned commercial enterprise (SOE).
The company, Amiblu, which is headquartered in Austria and specialises in the design and production of glass fibre-reinforced polyester (GRP) pipes, is the investor in the multimillion-dollar deal.
The agreement reportedly marks a significant step in boosting Namibia’s industrial capacity.
Nida’s acting chief executive officer, Richwell Lukonga, confirmed the deal to Namibian Sun, adding that the three parties – Nida, NamWater and Amiblu – have already signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
“What is important right now is to understand that Nida is an investment agency. We have investors that have been coming into the country over the years. So we should embrace the opportunity,” Lukonga said.
According to him, Nida’s contribution to the joint venture is a five-hectare plot of land at Walvis Bay, where the plant will be built.
“Nida has identified a portion of land to establish one of the biggest manufacturing plants in Namibia,” he confirmed.
A groundbreaking ceremony of the project, valued at close to N$400 million, is expected to take place later this year, he added.
“This is not a small investor. Amiblu has been in operation for years. We will be shareholders in the venture,” Lukonga explained.
Worldwide operations
Lukonga added that the investment aligns with Nida’s industrialisation mandate.
“We will create jobs, and we will benefit from dividend payouts and so many other opportunities."
Amiblu is recognised for its Hobas and Flowtite GRP piping systems, which are utilised worldwide in sustainable water and industrial infrastructure.
The company has manufacturing operations in Germany, Spain, Poland and Romania.
The company also has a footprint in Africa, where it manufactures pipes in Morocco.
It has also worked in Dakar, Senegal, where it supplied 8 000 meters of GRP drainage pipes for a Bus Rapid Transit project.
Trip to Spain raises eyebrows
Although based in Austria, Amiblu operates a production facility in Camarles in the Spanish province of Tarragona. The facility is the company's only site in Spain.
Earlier this month, Nida spent over N$420 000 on a one-week trip to Spain for its top executives to familiarise themselves with Amiblu’s factory operations, according to documents.
This is despite ongoing concerns about the parastatal’s financial difficulties.
The trip, which took place from 6 to 13 June, included Lukonga, Nida board chairperson Sebulon Kankondi, board director Thaddius Maswahu and strategy consultant Inyemba Kamwi.
Documents seen by Namibian Sun show that Kamwi and Maswahu each received N$50 882 in allowances, while Kankondi and Lukonga received N$49 282 each. An additional N$166 061 was spent on international air tickets.
The timing and cost of the trip have raised eyebrows among employees and observers, especially amid persistent claims of financial instability within the agency.
In July last year, Nida workers staged a strike demanding salary increases and improved working conditions, accusing management of allocating resources to executive benefits while neglecting staff welfare.
There have also been ongoing reports of delayed salary payments and disruptions to essential services, including electricity at employee housing units.
Trip justified
Lukonga has defended the trip, saying that it was necessary.
“We had to go there as part of the due diligence process. We needed to go and see what are some of the operations this company has, how are their technology, and who are we really partnering with, so this trip was necessary,” Lukonga said.
He rubbished claims that Nida is experiencing financial instability.
“There has never been a situation where we are not paying our third parties or salaries. That's the trend I found here before I came. But people want that status quo to continue,” he said.
He told Namibian Sun that by 2027, Nida’s target is to start production.
“The investor is coming next month, and then we finalise the agreement. They have already appointed local engineers to work on the designs. Our target is that come 2027, we should be able to start the first manufacturing.
“They are funding the project. Our only contribution is to avail land. So there is nothing sinister about it,” he emphasised.
Nida was established to spearhead industrialisation in Namibia, aiming to drive economic growth and create jobs. It was established by Act 16 of 2016 and operates as a state-owned commercial enterprise (SOE).
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