Namibia, a Southern African nation endowed with significant deposits of critical minerals such as uranium, lithium, graphite, rare earth elements, copper, manganese, and zinc, is seeking to capitalise on these natural endowments to strengthen its role in the global supply chain.
Speaking at the critical raw materials industry session of the European Union–Namibia Business Forum in Windhoek on Wednesday, Minister of Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse highlighted this ambition.
He explained that the country’s integration into global value chains will be driven by its abundant mineral resources, which are expected to form the backbone of future industrial development.
Across global markets, minerals like lithium, uranium, graphite, and rare earths are increasingly vital due to their extensive use in advanced technologies and energy systems.
At the same time, continuous geological exploration across Africa is uncovering new and significant deposits of these strategically important resources.
One such development includes Australian firm Aldoro Resources Ltd’s announcement of high-value mineral discoveries at its Kameelburg project in Namibia.
The find, located in central Namibia between Otjiwarongo and Omaruru, revealed high-grade niobium and strontium deposits.
Minister Amutse noted that while Europe prioritises a stable, diversified, and reliable supply of raw materials, Namibia views its mineral wealth as a pathway to industrial growth, job creation, and long-term economic transformation.
He further stated that the government is focusing on increasing local processing, attracting long-term investment, facilitating skills and technology transfer, promoting inclusive development, and embedding the country into global supply networks.
According to him, Namibia intends to connect its resources to international value chains supporting batteries, renewable energy technologies, advanced manufacturing, and nuclear fuel production.
Amutse also emphasized that collaboration with the European Union offers mutual benefits, adding that since the inaugural EU–Namibia Business Forum in 2023, cooperation has deepened.
A formal partnership between Namibia and the EU has already been established, focusing on renewable hydrogen and critical raw material value chains.
In addition, the EU is assisting Namibia in formulating a comprehensive national strategy for the development of its critical raw materials sector.
Recently, further momentum in the sector was recorded after Australian-listed Askari Metals reported Phase 1 trenching results at its 100%-owned Uis Project, revealing a new high-grade critical mineral site.
The trenching programme, carried out at approximately 40-metre intervals, is intended to support follow-up drilling planned for the second half of 2026.
Key findings included 8,340 ppm tin, 0.57% lithium oxide, 299 ppm tantalum, and 2,380 ppm rubidium, with lithium levels surpassing typical cut-off grades for spodumene pegmatites.
Mining Commissioner Isabella Chirchir reported that Namibia had received more than 800 new exploration licence applications as of March this year, reflecting intensifying competition for minerals essential to the renewable energy transition.
The country is also modernising its licensing framework through digital systems aimed at reducing delays and speeding up approval processes.
Despite these reforms, over 600 environmental applications remain pending, alongside new submissions, underscoring both strong investor interest and administrative pressure on regulators.
Namibia currently holds 588 active exploration licences and is working to expand beyond its traditional uranium and diamond sectors into a broader critical minerals economy.