Mining Expo and Conference kicks off – Exhibitors increased by 59%
The Mining Expo and Conference kicked off in Windhoek on Wednesday with international and local exhibitors featuring at the event under the theme: “Namibia’s Role in the Sustainable Supply of Minerals to Support the Global Energy Transition”.
The conference which runs on Wednesday and Thursday, parallel to the Expo has been hailed as the largest ever, attracting a huge turnout.
“We have 164 exhibitors occupying 268 booths this year, as compared to 103 exhibitors with 163 booths during the previous event in 2022. This is an impressive increase of 59.2% in exhibitors and 64.4% in booth uptake,” said the Chamber of Mines of Namibia President, Zebra Kasete
According to Kasete, several exhibitors are from the Southern Africa Development Community Region, with 16 companies from South Africa, other exhibitors from Europe, and three oil and gas companies.
“This year’s event sheds light on Namibia’s significant contribution to the global shift to cleaner energy sources. The global energy transition from fossil fuels will not happen without mining and must be a “just transition”, not an overnight process,” he added.
In a keynote address, read on behalf of the President by the Vice President, HE Nangolo Mbumba noted that exploration and mining are the most significant contributors to Namibia’s economy.
“Presently, the topical issue is global energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy to combat climate change, which can only be achieved through access to and utilization of vast quantities of appropriate minerals,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Mines and Energy, Hon Tom Alweendo said Namibia values its investors who have earned their operating licences while stating that the government will continue to improve its efficiency and effectiveness in managing the mining sector.
