Windhoek, Namibia – Namibia’s mining sector has kicked off the 2026 financial year with a robust display of economic muscle, reporting a staggering N$64.7 billion in export earnings for the 2025/26 fiscal year. While traditional diamonds face headwinds, the industry is undergoing a rapid transformation driven by uranium, gold, and a strategic pivot toward becoming a global hub for critical minerals and energy .
In a clear signal that the era of merely digging and exporting is ending, the government has launched a multi-pronged strategy combining aggressive local beneficiation policies, massive infrastructure investments, and the formalization of the oil and gas sector to secure long-term industrial growth .
Production Updates: Uranium and Gold Take the Lead
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah revealed in her recent State of the Nation Address that the mining sector contributed N$1.4 billion in royalties and created 580 new jobs, despite a volatile global market. She noted a definitive shift in the country’s commodity landscape, with uranium and gold outperforming traditional diamond exports .
“This transition reflects changing global commodity dynamics and reinforces the need to accelerate value addition and beneficiation policies,” President Nandi-Ndaitwah stated .
In the base metals sector, Rosh Pinah Zinc (RPZ) has officially commissioned Namibia’s first paste backfill plant. This milestone marks a significant leap in sustainable mining, as the plant reduces surface tailings while improving ore recovery. The broader RP2.0 expansion project is now over 85% complete, poised to double the mine’s processing capacity to 1.3 million tonnes per year by the third quarter of 2026 .
Project Developments: Copper Surge & Exploration Boom
Investor confidence is soaring on the back of new discoveries and expedited timelines. Bezant Resources has announced a massive sevenfold increase in the mineral resource estimate at its Hope & Gorob Copper-Gold Project. The resource has jumped from 410,000 tonnes to over three million tonnes, extending the immediate mine life to 7.5 years. The company expects to deliver its first copper-gold concentrates during the second half of 2026, with key contracts already awarded to Unitrans Namibia and Weir Minerals .
The critical minerals landscape is also heating up. Kaoko Metals is planning to raise A$6.5 million (approx. N$78 million) as it lists on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) to fund copper exploration. Similarly, Namibia Critical Metals has amended its joint venture with Japan’s JOGMEC for the Lofdal heavy rare earths project, securing additional funding to complete a definitive feasibility study as global demand for EV and wind turbine materials rises .
Policy Shift: Local Content & “First Oil” Prep
The government is moving swiftly to ensure the resource boom translates into domestic prosperity. The Ministry of Mines and Energy has unveiled its 2025/26–2029/30 Strategic Plan, which focuses intensely on local content, capacity building, and value addition .
Deputy Minister Gaudentia Kröhne, speaking recently at the Africa Mining Indaba in Cape Town, framed Namibia’s pitch clearly: the country is open for business, “but not for extraction alone.” The strategy emphasizes that investors must partner with Namibia to process minerals locally, moving away from raw commodity exports .
Simultaneously, the government is preparing for a future beyond mining. With massive offshore oil discoveries (Venus, Mopane, Graff) targeting Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) in 2026, the Ministry is overhauling national infrastructure. Plans are underway to develop an onshore petroleum supply base at Walvis Bay and construct inland fuel depots to manage the logistics of “first oil” expected before the end of the decade .
Energy & Infrastructure: Breaking Mining’s Grip
In a move to diversify the economy, the government has partnered with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to launch a N$28.5 billion infrastructure blueprint. While mining remains the cornerstone of the economy—contributing 14% of GDP in 2023—this five-year plan aims to build climate-resilient energy and water management systems to support industrial growth .
President Nandi-Ndaitwah confirmed that energy projects worth over N$8 billion are underway, expected to boost national electricity generation from 759 MW to 903 MW this fiscal year. This energy security is vital for future mineral beneficiation plants .
As Namibia balances the legacy of diamonds with the promise of green hydrogen, oil, and rare earths, the message from Windhoek is unified: the country is positioning itself not just as a mine, but as Africa’s next industrial powerhouse.
