Finnish mining sector expertise well presented in Namibia

The mining industry is a backbone of Namibia’s economy, contributing to more than half of the country’s export earnings. Thanks to its rich soil, the mining sector has a long history in Namibia, going back more than 100 years. The outlook for the sector is positive, and new mines have opened in the country in recent years. The green transition has led to a significant increase in demand for critical raw materials, which is reflected in a number of ongoing exploration projects in Namibia. Namibian soils are estimated to contain significant unexploited deposits of, for example, battery minerals.

Finnish mining companies and research institutions have been cooperating with the Namibian mining sector for several decades, and the expertise of Finnish operators in developing responsible mining sector is well known in the country. A delegation of Finnish mining and support sector operators visited Namibia in late August. Representatives from Mining Finland, Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), Finnpartnership and the Finnish Embassy in Namibia, together with company representatives from Metso and Meriaura and the Finnish Ambassador for Trade and Development, Eija Rotinen, visited several mines and met with mining experts from the local mines.

Finland also represented at the Namibia Mining Expo

The annual Namibia Mining Expo is the most important event for the mining sector in Namibia. Hosted by the Chamber of Mines of Namibia, the event also brings many international players to Windhoek every year. This year’s event attracted exceptional interest, with an increase in the number of stands of more than 60% compared to last year’s Expo.

As part of the visit, the Finnish delegation took also part in the Mining Expo with a joint stand, which attracted a large number of Namibians and international operators who were keen to learn about Finnish mining expertise. The joint exhibition stand of Mining Finland, GTK, Finnpartnership, the Embassy of Finland in Namibia, Metso and Meriaura was highlighted several times at the opening ceremony of the Mining Expo and at the conference organised in conjunction with the exhibition. The delegation also had the honour of welcoming Namibia’s Vice President Nangolo Mbumba and Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo, who visited the Finnish stand on the opening day of the Expo. GTK and its Outokumpu Mineral Processing Pilot Plant and Laboratories, GTK Mintec, were also well presented at the conference, when Aleksi Salo, Team Manager of GTK’s Mineral Economy Solutions unit, gave a presentation on the mineral value chains in battery industry from a geological research perspective.

EU-Namibia strategic partnership creates opportunities also for Finnish companies

The growing demand for critical raw materials has put Namibia at the spotlight also internationally. The country was the first African country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership with the European Union (EU) at the end of last year. The strategic partnership focuses on the critical raw materials value-chains and the production of green hydrogen. One of the objectives of the partnership is to support Namibia to become a key producer of critical raw materials and to develop mineral processing locally. From an EU perspective, the aim is also to facilitate European investment in Namibia’s mining sector and to ensure a diverse and sustainable supply of critical raw materials.

Through the strategic partnership, Finland aims to build mutually beneficial partnerships in Namibia and to promote sustainable supply of critical raw materials and job creation locally. The partnership will create interesting business opportunities for Finnish companies in the mining, water, education, and energy sectors. Finnpartnership’s Business Partnership Support, grant funding for Finnish companies, can accelerate the start of cooperation with Namibian business partners.

For any questions on the mining sector collaboration, please contact julian.blom@finnpartnership.fi