The United States is seeking an energy and minerals partnership with Namibia focused on oil, gas and uranium development as part of efforts to strengthen global energy supply chains.
The US ambassador to Namibia, John Giordano, said this at the Powering Africa Summit in Washington DC on Wednesday.
Giordano said Namibia’s position as one of the world’s leading uranium producers and its emerging oil and gas industry make the country increasingly important to global energy security and mineral supply.
According to the ambassador, countries that produce strategic minerals and energy resources are becoming central to global supply chains, especially as countries seek more reliable energy sources and alternative supply routes.
“Countries capable of producing strategic minerals and energy resources at scale are becoming central to the security of global supply chains and the reliability of future power systems. Namibia is a prime example of this,” Giordano said at the summit.
He said Namibia’s uranium production and growing oil and gas exploration place the country in a strong position in the global energy market, particularly at a time when many countries are trying to reduce reliance on unstable supply routes.
Giordano referred to disruptions in global oil transport routes linked to conflicts in the Middle East, which have affected the movement of crude oil through major shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
American companies already in Namibia
The ambassador said the US government wants American companies to invest early in Namibia’s energy and mineral sectors and turn US strategy into actual projects and investments in the country.
Several American companies are already operating in Namibia’s energy sector, including Chevron and ExxonMobil. Oilfield service companies such as Baker Hughes, Halliburton and SLB are also involved in oil exploration and drilling activities in the country.
Giordano said the goal is to ensure American investment supports supply chain stability, resource development and investment partnerships between both countries.
The ambassador also pointed to Namibia’s infrastructure, particularly the port at Walvis Bay, which he said could serve as a logistics and trade hub for southern Africa due to its transport corridors, roads and port facilities.
He said Namibia’s infrastructure network supports exports and resource transportation across the region, making the country important not only for energy production but also for logistics and trade.
Global interest in Namibia has increased in recent years following oil discoveries offshore and the country’s long-standing uranium production, which is used for nuclear energy.
