Alweendo calls for collaborative efforts to harness mining sector possibilities

WINDHOEK: Tom Alweendo, Minister of Mines and Energy, has called for collaborative efforts to overcome obstacles and embrace possibilities in the mining sector. Alweendo stated this on Wednesday at the 11th Mining Expo and Conference in Windhoek, underlined government's commitment to fostering a sustainable and profitable mining industry. The conference is themed 'Green Shoots for Namibia's Mining Industry: A Season of Opportunity and Growth to Drive Economic Expansion'. The primary objectives of the Mining Expo and Conference are to showcase the Namibian mining industry to stakeholders and the public, provide a platform for identifying business opportunities in upstream linkages, and promote careers in mining-related fields. He noted that the ministry currently has 162 valid mining licenses and only 68 are actively mining. He added that the energy transition has triggered a global interest in the exploration, mining, and processing of critical minerals. As the world is starting to figure out how to m eet the demand for these critical minerals, the ministry has realised the need for a globally coordinated effort to ensure the sustainability of the critical minerals supply chains, he said. 'Namibia is a country endowed with some of the needed critical minerals and it must count for something. Our vision is to be a significant player in the supply chain of critical minerals in support of the global energy transition. In realising our vision, we would like to partner and collaborate with like-minded international partners to create a successful and competitive critical minerals sector with a positive socio-economic impact on our citizens,' he said. Source: The Namibia Press Agency