Angola and Namibia strengthen energy and mineral cooperation

Lobito refinery critical minerals energy security Angola-Namibia relations uranium processing

Angola and Namibia are deepening bilateral cooperation focused on energy and mineral resources. During a state visit by Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to Angola, President João Lourenço invited Namibia to become a shareholder in the Lobito refinery project in Benguela province. The facility is designed to process 200,000 barrels of oil per day, aiming to reduce regional dependence on imported refined products.

Separately, Namibia is advancing its own industrial and energy strategies. President Nandi-Ndaitwah is pushing for local processing of critical minerals, such as lithium, copper, and uranium, by requiring mining projects to include domestic manufacturing or refining facilities. The government is also developing a national nuclear energy policy to leverage its uranium wealth for domestic electricity security and industrial growth.

In Mozambique, the state-owned Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH) is negotiating a $250 million natural gas project involving floating storage and regasification units (FSRU) in Inhassoro and Beira to bolster its role as a regional energy hub.