Namibia develops a wood industry
A local wood processing and furniture industry is getting off the ground following the ban on exports of unprocessed timber.
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
A local wood industry is developing, with a timber factory having been established at Rundu, run by local operators.
In addition, there are now small and medium enterprises (SME) doing timber processing and furniture production at other places such as Tsumeb, Ondangwa, Keetmanshoop and Leonardville.
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said this when he responded to questions in parliament last week.
He reiterated that it is currently not legally permissible to export unprocessed or semi-processed timber from Namibia.
According to Shifeta no timber harvesting permits have been issued by the forestry authority since 26 November 2018.
Shifeta said timber in different forms continues to be transported through Namibia from other countries using the port of Walvis Bay for exports.
Most of this timber originates from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and Angola and arrives in Namibia via the Katima Mulilo (Wenela) and Katwitwi border posts.
Since July 2020, more than 300 timber trucks have entered Namibia, and the forestry department issued the necessary transit permits. In total, 994 permits were issued at the Katima Mulilo forestry office - 947 for timber from Zambia and 47 for timber coming from the DRC. Two permits were issued at the Nkurenkuru forestry office for trucks coming from Angola.
In total, 1 397 timber containers from neighbouring countries used the port of Walvis Bay from July 2020 to February 2021 and distributed 49 containers from Angola, 47 containers from the DRC and 1 301 containers from Zambia.
Exports
Shifeta said although previously export permits were issued to allow already harvested timber to be transported within the country, it was clearly stipulated that no unprocessed or semi-processed timber may be exported from Namibia. Since then, Namibia has authorised the exportation of only processed products, including planks no more than 5 cm thick.
However, many timber traders found that the given plank size does not fit with their required product specifications and therefore very few of them have applied to export processed planks.
Shifeta said since July 2020, they have recorded only eight containers of processed planks of Namibian origin exported through Walvis Bay.
“We are further working with the ministry of trade and industrialisation and the ministry of education, arts and culture to ensure greater value addition and value chain development of the local timber industry.”
He added that the ministry was amending the Forestry Act of 2001 and its regulations to close potential loopholes.
WINDHOEK
A local wood industry is developing, with a timber factory having been established at Rundu, run by local operators.
In addition, there are now small and medium enterprises (SME) doing timber processing and furniture production at other places such as Tsumeb, Ondangwa, Keetmanshoop and Leonardville.
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said this when he responded to questions in parliament last week.
He reiterated that it is currently not legally permissible to export unprocessed or semi-processed timber from Namibia.
According to Shifeta no timber harvesting permits have been issued by the forestry authority since 26 November 2018.
Shifeta said timber in different forms continues to be transported through Namibia from other countries using the port of Walvis Bay for exports.
Most of this timber originates from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and Angola and arrives in Namibia via the Katima Mulilo (Wenela) and Katwitwi border posts.
Since July 2020, more than 300 timber trucks have entered Namibia, and the forestry department issued the necessary transit permits. In total, 994 permits were issued at the Katima Mulilo forestry office - 947 for timber from Zambia and 47 for timber coming from the DRC. Two permits were issued at the Nkurenkuru forestry office for trucks coming from Angola.
In total, 1 397 timber containers from neighbouring countries used the port of Walvis Bay from July 2020 to February 2021 and distributed 49 containers from Angola, 47 containers from the DRC and 1 301 containers from Zambia.
Exports
Shifeta said although previously export permits were issued to allow already harvested timber to be transported within the country, it was clearly stipulated that no unprocessed or semi-processed timber may be exported from Namibia. Since then, Namibia has authorised the exportation of only processed products, including planks no more than 5 cm thick.
However, many timber traders found that the given plank size does not fit with their required product specifications and therefore very few of them have applied to export processed planks.
Shifeta said since July 2020, they have recorded only eight containers of processed planks of Namibian origin exported through Walvis Bay.
“We are further working with the ministry of trade and industrialisation and the ministry of education, arts and culture to ensure greater value addition and value chain development of the local timber industry.”
He added that the ministry was amending the Forestry Act of 2001 and its regulations to close potential loopholes.
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