Namibian and Chinese officials signed agreements on infrastructure, mining, and energy during a state visit to Beijing this week, Foreign Ministers Wang Yi and Selma Ashipala-Musavyi announced. According to a joint communique, the deals aim to support Namibia’s industrialization and integration into the global value chain, with a focus on new energy, green hydrogen, uranium processing, and major infrastructure projects.
The agreements signed during the visit expand the China–Namibia cooperation framework, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Namibian Foreign Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi issuing a joint communique after talks in Beijing. The communique outlined China’s commitment to supporting Namibia’s industrialization and downstream processing of resources, specifically highlighting sectors such as new energy, green hydrogen, oil and gas, mining, and infrastructure, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP). The statement also emphasized efforts to increase the added value of key mineral resources, including uranium, and invited Chinese firms to invest in Namibia to advance major economic cooperation projects.
CNNC would acquire a 42.75% stake for up to $321.5 million, funding capital expenditures proportionate to its equity.
Mining cooperation remains a central focus, particularly in uranium and downstream processing. China National Uranium Corporation (CNNC) has increased its presence in Namibia’s uranium sector, acquiring a stake in the Rössing uranium mine following Rio Tinto’s agreement to sell its 68.62% majority stake for $106.5 million in November, City Press reported. CNNC also holds a 25% stake in the Langer Heinrich uranium mine alongside Australian company Paladin Energy, sources confirmed. A major new transaction announced on February 12 involves CNNC’s subsidiary agreeing to develop the Etango uranium project with Australian firm Bannerman Energy. Under the deal, Bannerman would retain 52.25%, while Namibia’s One Economy Foundation holds the remaining interest. The transaction requires regulatory approvals, including clearance from Namibia’s competition authority, with parties aiming to complete it by mid-2026, according to Bannerman’s announcement.
The Etango agreement includes a clause allowing CNNC to purchase 60% of the mine’s uranium production over its life, designed to yield 52.6 million pounds of uranium over more than 15 years, Ecofin Agency reported. This arrangement aligns with Beijing’s long-term uranium supply ambitions and supports Namibia’s efforts to move beyond raw material exports through domestic processing of critical minerals, according to SCMP.
Energy cooperation between the two countries encompasses grid infrastructure, power development, and nuclear-related industrial goals. The joint communique underscored collaboration in new energy and green hydrogen alongside oil and gas, mining, and infrastructure, SCMP noted. One concrete example is the Kunene-Omatando substation project and an interconnector overhead transmission line scheduled for handover to Chinese builders in autumn 2024, as reported by China Daily. This project exemplifies the energy infrastructure cooperation that forms a major pillar of China-Namibia relations, officials said. The communique also highlighted China’s support for uranium-related value addition and broader industrial upgrading within Namibia’s energy sector.
Infrastructure projects continue to underpin bilateral ties, with Chinese-funded or constructed developments spanning roads, ports, mines, military infrastructure, and government buildings, Tearline reported. Since establishing diplomatic relations on March 22, 1990, China and Namibia have engaged in frequent high-level exchanges, according to China Daily. City Press reported that since 2015, Namibia has benefited from a range of China-aided projects in infrastructure, agriculture, education, and healthcare, funded through Chinese grants and concessional loans totaling approximately R2.8 billion. Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged $10 billion in development financing for Africa, part of which Namibia has sought to leverage, City Press added.
Beyond mining and energy, China has shown interest in expanding investments in sectors such as agriculture and automobiles, with potential projects valued at around R10 billion, sources told City Press. Namibia’s diplomatic engagement with China has been characterized by annual visits to Beijing and sustained support for Chinese aid, reflecting a long-standing partnership under successive foreign ministerial leaderships, Tearline reported.
The agreements signed during the state visit build on decades of cooperation and aim to deepen Namibia’s integration into the global value chain through industrialization and value addition. The next steps include regulatory approvals for mining transactions like the Etango deal and the implementation of infrastructure projects scheduled for completion in the coming years.
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