Namibia sets 57% processed minerals target

Namibia wants to increase the share of processed mineral exports from 46.6% to 57% by 2030 as the country pushes to move beyond raw mineral exports and position itself as a critical minerals processing, industrial and logistics hub for Europe's energy transition and future supply chains, Mines and Energy Minister Modestus Amutse said.

Speaking at the second EU-Namibia Business Forum in Windhoek las week, Amutse said Namibia's ambitions in the critical raw materials sector are "practical, measurable, and forward-looking" and centred around beneficiation, industrialisation and integration into global value chains.

Namibia's first objective, the minister said, is to accelerate beneficiation and local value addition through greater domestic refining, upgrading and mineral transformation, rather than exporting raw resources.

"This means more refining, upgrading, and transformation taking place domestically," Amutse said.

He said Namibia is simultaneously targeting long-term strategic investment, with the government aiming to increase foreign direct investment stock from N$207 billion to N$254 billion by 2030 through a stable and predictable investment climate.

Amutse said Namibia also wants deeper integration into European and global supply chains for batteries, renewable energy technologies, advanced manufacturing and nuclear fuel markets, as demand for critical minerals accelerates globally.

The minister said another major priority is stronger skills and technology transfer so that Namibia's mineral wealth contributes to the development of local expertise in engineering, metallurgy, environmental management and digital mining systems.

The minister said Europe's priority is securing diversified and sustainable critical mineral supply chains, while Namibia's objective is to use its mineral wealth to drive industrialisation, employment creation and long-term economic development.

"For Europe, the priority is secure, diversified, and sustainable supply. For Namibia, the opportunity is to use our mineral wealth to advance industrialisation, employment creation, and long-term development. For both of us, the path forward is partnership," Amutse said.

He said Namibia is positioning itself as one of Europe's most reliable partners in critical raw materials because of its mineral resource potential, political stability, legal certainty, strong institutions and long-established mining sector.

Mining contributed 14% to Namibia's gross domestic product in 2025, accounted for 51.3% of total exports and represented 6.8% of formal employment, Amutse said.

Namibia hosts significant deposits of uranium, lithium, graphite, rare earth elements, copper, manganese, zinc and other strategic minerals required for modern industry and the global energy transition, he said.

"This diversity of resources gives Namibia a strategic advantage at a time when the world is seeking dependable new supply sources," he said.

Investor interest in Namibia's uranium sector has continued growing since the inaugural EU-Namibia Business Forum in 2023, while lithium and graphite projects have advanced alongside expanding exploration activities targeting rare earth elements, copper and other strategic minerals, the minister said.

He said cooperation between Namibia and the European Union has also deepened through the Strategic Partnership on Sustainable Raw Materials Value Chains and Renewable Hydrogen.

Amutse welcomed Europe's Critical Raw Materials Act, saying Namibia's policy priorities are aligned with the EU's objective of creating secure, transparent and diversified supply chains outside traditional high-risk jurisdictions.

"This demonstrates clearly that our partnership is moving from dialogue to delivery," he said.

Namibia is currently developing a National Critical Raw Materials Strategy in cooperation with the European Union, aimed at establishing a national framework covering exploration, mining competitiveness, beneficiation, local processing, skills development, ESG standards and strategic investment attraction, Amutse said.