The Vice President has called on entrepreneurs to venture into the production of nuclear energy for Namibians to benefit from the downstream nuclear value chain activities.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was speaking at the 11th 2024 Mining Expo and Conference that convened in Windhoek.

Vice President Nandi-Ndaitwah says nuclear fuel is not only for the production of destructive nuclear weapons but has many peaceful and economic benefits, such as medicine, food, and energy production, which is a key enabler for industrialisation.

She said the mining and exploration sector contributes significantly to the country's economy, and its contribution to government revenue saw a significant increase from N$4.4 billion in 2022 to N$6.8 billion in 2023.

Therefore, Nandi-Ndaitwah called on the finalisation of the local content policy for the oil and gas sector. 

The policy is to ensure that Namibians benefit from every part of the oil and gas value chain.

"By doing so, we are committed to maximising the economic impact of our natural resources, fostering local expertise, and ensuring that the wealth generated from these industries contributes directly to the prosperity of our people. The value addition that we have committed to ourselves, we mean it, and we are asking our partners to understand our position and to collaborate with us, as in a partnership, each partner should benefit."

With potential in the sector, the President of the Chamber of Mines of Namibia, Zebra Kasete, called on expediting official paper work to create a conducive investment environment.

This year's two-day Mining Expo and Conference is held under the theme, "Green Shoots for Namibia's Mining Industry: A Season of Opportunity and Growth to Drive Economic Expansion."

The expo features exhibitors showcasing the latest innovation and technologies, with activities including the mining conference, supplier platform, and business-to-business networking sessions.