A call for long-term stewardship

As we mark World Water Day and World Wetlands Day 2026, there is an urgent shift required: moving from viewing water as a resource to treating it as a shared responsibility.

In Namibia, one of the driest countries south of the Sahara, water can mean the difference between thriving and merely surviving. It is the thread that connects our economy to our environment, our present to our future, and our individual actions to our collective well-being. Reliable access to water is more than just a basic human right; it is an economic enabler that attracts investment, safeguards jobs, and unlocks growth and opportunity for communities and businesses alike.

At Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL), water is the primary ingredient in our products and is used in all our manufacturing processes. This makes us acutely aware of both our dependence on this precious resource and our responsibility to protect it. Consequently, we have deliberately decided not to be passive stewards. The recent severe drought has underscored the uncomfortable truth that innovative water conservation and availability solutions are a national imperative.

The Innovation Imperative

Guided by our "Brew a Better Namibia" strategy, we have set out to achieve ambitious 2030 targets: reducing average water usage to 2.4 hectolitres per hectolitre. Since 2015, NBL has invested N$35 million in water reduction measures and continues to push for greater efficiencies through the optimisation of every process where water touches our operations. We pre-clean 100% of our effluent, which is then treated by the City of Windhoek—a circular approach that transforms waste into value. We have invested in advanced technologies, upskilled our workforce, and embedded water consciousness into our corporate culture.

But efficiency alone is insufficient, which is why we aim to fully balance the water used in our products in water-stressed areas by 2032. This means we will replenish 1.5 litres of water for every litre of beer sold. This represents a mindset shift—from merely minimising harm to actively contributing to water security.

Infrastructure Resilience in a Changing Climate

Our six boreholes, drawing from the Windhoek Northern Aquifer, can supply up to 100% of our production water needs during droughts. This brings tangible benefits to the Namibian community by easing the pressure on the Southern Aquifer, thereby securing water access for the inhabitants of the City of Windhoek.

In 2024, we were granted a permit allowing full borehole water withdrawal, ensuring we could meet our production requirements even during the most challenging periods. This permit was not a licence for unchecked consumption but reflected our demonstrated commitment to responsible use and our critical role in Namibia’s economy. However, the Northern Aquifer is not infinite, which is why we are committed to long-term investment and collaboration to preserve its sustainability.

Establishing the Northern Industry Forum

One of the most important realisations in recent years is that no single stakeholder or business, regardless of its size or resources, can secure Namibia’s water future alone. Water challenges transcend competitive boundaries and sectoral silos, demanding deep collaboration.

Recognising the need for collective action, NBL helped unify organisations in the Northern Industrial area, bringing together industries that rely on water as a critical production input and who depend on the Windhoek Northern Aquifer. In 2024, we established the Northern Industry Forum (NIF) as a collaborative platform to engage with the Government, local authorities, and stakeholders to ensure the long-term sustainability of this vital water source.

The NIF includes leading companies across various sectors. What unites us is not similar business models or shared markets, but a shared dependence on the Northern Aquifer and a shared commitment to protecting it.

To better understand the sustainability of the Windhoek Northern Aquifer, the NIF commissioned an independent hydrological assessment and shared the results with the City of Windhoek. The findings were clear: the Windhoek Northern Aquifer is healthy and can sustainably support industrial water demand. This report will guide our collective action plan, providing the scientific foundation for sustainable abstraction rates, monitoring protocols, and contingency planning.

Long-Term Thinking Over Short-Term Gains

The progress we have made in water efficiency through collaborative forums is encouraging, but the challenges ahead remain formidable. Climate change projections suggest that Namibia will face increasingly frequent and severe droughts. According to the Namibia Statistics Agency, Windhoek’s Khomas region experienced a 49.2% population increase between 2011 and 2023, while the number of households grew by 61.7% over the same period. This rapid urban expansion, coupled with ageing water infrastructure, underscores how population growth and economic development will continue to increase water demand.

The gap between water availability and needs will continue to widen unless we act decisively. At NBL, we will continue to push the boundaries of water efficiency. We will continue to invest in technologies that reduce our water footprint and reclaim, pre-treat, and responsibly discharge our effluent. Our 2030 targets demonstrate that businesses can be powerful agents of sustainability when long-term thinking is prioritised over short-term gains.

Water Stewardship is a Shared Responsibility

Water is the lifeblood of Namibia, and for NBL, it is essential to our very existence. Our water security is inseparable from Namibia’s water security. Two years ago, we endured a devastating drought; let history not repeat itself because we failed to act.

I invite other businesses, industries, and stakeholders to join us in this journey of shared stewardship. Share your data. Collaborate with competitors on sustainability even as you compete in the marketplace. Engage with policymakers to advocate for long-term impact and shared solutions.

The Northern Aquifer that sustains our operations, the wetlands that recharge our systems, and the rainfall that fills our reservoirs are all shared resources. Let us prove ourselves worthy water custodians by ensuring that these natural resources endure to sustain generations to come.

Waldemar von Lieres, Managing Director of Namibia Breweries Limited.