Unlocking Namibia’s Critical Minerals Potential
The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), in collaboration with the Green Rare Earth Elements and Minerals (GREEM) Project, led by Ombu Capital, hosted the inaugural public lecture in a series themed “Unlocking Namibia’s Critical Minerals Potential: Green Technologies, Value Addition and the Future of Rare Earth Elements.”
Keynote speaker, Niels Verbaan, provided valuable technical insight into the realities of Rare Earth Elements processing, drawing on his extensive experience in designing, operating and interpreting pilot plants. His presentation explored how rare earths are processed and examined the industry's track record in bringing REE and critical mineral projects from concept to commercialisation.
Prof Colin Stanley, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation and Partnerships highlighted that: “NUST has demonstrated its commitment to mineral beneficiation through the establishment of the Centre of Excellence in Mining and Mineral Beneficiation. The Centre has contributed to the development of Namibia’s Mineral Beneficiation Strategy and Implementation Plan, examined the feasibility of establishing a local glass industry, and continues to undertake research in areas such as green hydrogen applications and the direct reduction of oxide minerals for green-steel production.”
Reflecting on Namibia’s industrialisation journey, Ambassador Dr Kaire Mbuende, Director General of the National Planning Commission (NPC), underscored the importance of sustainability, value addition and economic beneficiation. He reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting partnerships and initiatives that advance Namibia’s mineral transformation agenda.
Namibia has moved a step closer to positioning itself as a key player in the global critical minerals value chain following Ombu Capital's successful funding acquisition for the country's first rare earth elements (REE) processing plant. Vetumbuavi Mungunda, the Founder of Ombu Capital highlighted that the landmark project, to be developed in the Kunene Region, represents a significant milestone in Namibia's industrialisation journey by enabling the local processing of rare earth minerals. This development has the potential to shift the country from primarily exporting raw mineral resources to producing higher-value products, creating opportunities for economic growth, job creation, and increased participation in the global clean energy supply chain.
The evening concluded with a thought-provoking panel discussion exploring “What role can Namibia realistically play in rare earth elements processing?”, giving in-depth insights into the country's readiness to develop downstream processing capabilities.
