Namibia, Belgium talk diamonds and green hydrogen

Augetto Graig
President Nangolo Mbumba met Belgium’s head of state King Phillippe on Tuesday.

Here on a state visit, King Phillippe led a powerful delegation, including Belgium's energy minister, the chief officer for the Belgian development agency, staff from his office and staff from the Belgian embassy in Cape Town.

On arrival at the Hosea Kutako International Airport on Monday night, King Phillippe was met by a silent honour guard, and on Tuesday morning, the Namibian army welcomed him with a parade and a 21-gun salute at State House.

In his opening speech, Mbumba said Namibia and Belgium continue to work together in terms of environmental management, tourism, port development and foreign affairs. A new agreement was signed for cooperation on a 32-hectare reforestation project in the Kavango West Region, while the towns of Ongwediva and Lommel in Belgium have already been connected, among other things.

"Namibia is on the verge of a possible energy boom in the traditional hydrocarbon sector, given recent exciting discoveries of oil and gas in our oceans. We see these discoveries as complementary to our collective pursuit of the transition to cleaner sources of energy such as green hydrogen," Mbumba said.

"We see the traditional oil and gas sector as a transition, while cleaner energy sources are intended to usher in a climate-friendly green future.”

Serious risk

Mbumba further alluded to an agreement signed at COP26 in November 2021, which binds Namibia and Belgium to cooperation regarding green hydrogen, and the June 2022 agreement between NamPort and the Antwerp-Bruges international port to develop Namibia's ports.

The encounter, laden with significance, was heightened by Namibia and Belgium’s contribution to the global diamond industry, with Namibia being a major producer and Belgium being a diamond hub which is home to all major diamond mining companies, which source diamonds for thousands of diamond dealers across the globe.

Namibia was one of the eight African countries that made it into the 10 largest diamond producers in the world in 2022.

Mbumba also took the opportunity to bring up a decision by the Group of Seven (G7) to redirect diamond sales to member states through Belgium. G7 is an intergovernmental political and economic forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, while the European Union is considered a ‘non-enumerated member’.

“This decision poses a serious risk and threat to our economies - Angola, Botswana and Namibia - by increasing costs and also curtailing the freedom of trade for our countries. In that vein, we urgently request dialogue to find a mutually beneficial solution. Your Majesty, we hope for your support and the understanding of the Kingdom of Belgium," Mbumba said.

Long-term commitment

King Phillippe highlighted that he is here to demonstrate his country’s long-term commitment to Namibia.

"Belgium is proud to be the largest importer of Namibian products in the European Union," he added.

Yesterday, he visited the Cleanergy green hydrogen filling station in Walvis Bay - born of a partnership between Belgian shipping giant CMB.TECH and local Ohlthaver & List group.

He further inaugurated new joint projects in solar energy, green hydrogen, skills training and sustainable port logistics.

King Phillippe will also visit Guano Bird Island later today, and is set to leave the country tomorrow morning.

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-24

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