Deputy Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Gaudentia Krohne says Namibia has adopted a mineral beneficiation strategy to promote local processing and add value to the country's mineral resources before export.

She was responding to IPC MP Ferdinand Hengombe's questions on mineral value addition, policy implementation and incentives for local manufacturing.

The deputy minister explained that the ministry is developing a mineral beneficiation policy, while export levies and restrictions on exporting certain unprocessed minerals are intended to encourage local processing and job creation.

"The Cabinet institutes a policy banning the export of unrefined critical energy transition minerals such as unprocessed lithium, rare earth elements, manganese, cobalt and graphite. Requiring preliminary processing to take place within Namibia prior to export for spur local industrialisation, create domestic jobs and capture more value from our mineral wealth. This is really to encourage mining companies to perform in-country processing like crushing, refining and value addition rather than shipping raw material overseas."

She further stated that foreign investors are required to form local joint ventures, ensuring local participation and technology transfer.