Africa-Press – Namibia. THE European Union (EU) is keen to feed its industries by continuing to import Namibia’s more critical raw materials amid its energy crisis.
THE European Union (EU) is keen to feed its industries by continuing to import Namibia’s more critical raw materials amid its energy crisis.
The trading bloc’s ambassador to Namibia, Sinikka Antila, yesterday said president Hage Geingob and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen have agreed on a partnership on critical raw materials and green hydrogen.
She was speaking at the opening of the political dialogue between Namibia and the EU.
“President Geingob and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, met in Brussels at the African Union and EU summit in February, and agreed to start building a partnership of critical raw materials and green hydrogen,” Antila said.
She said European expertise and investment are already part of Namibia’s plans for critical raw materials and green hydrogen, and this as an important way of implementing global gateway pledges in Namibia.
Antila said Europe has to get rid of its dependency on Russian gas.
“We have diversified away from Russia to reliable suppliers like the United States, Norway, Algeria and others.
“Last year, Russian gas accounted for 40% of EU gas imports. Today it’s down to 9% of pipeline gas,” Antila said.
“But Russia keeps actively manipulating our energy market,” she said.
Making ends meet is becoming a source of anxiety for millions of businesses and households in Europe, she said.
The executive director in the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Penda Naanda, last year said Namibia exported goods valued at more than N$19 billion to the EU in 2019.
Export products ranged from agricultural and fish products to mining commodities.
According to the European Commission’s list of investments and trade in Namibia, the EU imported raw materials worth N$129 million as well as fuel and mining products worth N$2,2 billion between 2018 and 2021.
Minerals such as lithium, cobalt and copper are essential for digitalisation and renewable energy. Deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah yesterday said the government has already signed a memorandum of understanding on raw materials.
“We look forward to enhanced cooperation with the EU, including through the non-binding memorandum of understanding on sustainable raw materials and renewable hydrogen, currently being negotiated by our respective teams,” she said.
Experts have called for the government to export more refined goods, instead of raw materials, to create more value chains in the country.
The trading bloc’s ambassador to Namibia, Sinikka Antila, yesterday said president Hage Geingob and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen have agreed on a partnership on critical raw materials and green hydrogen.
She was speaking at the opening of the political dialogue between Namibia and the EU.
“President Geingob and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, met in Brussels at the African Union and EU summit in February, and agreed to start building a partnership of critical raw materials and green hydrogen,” Antila said.
She said European expertise and investment are already part of Namibia’s plans for critical raw materials and green hydrogen, and this as an important way of implementing global gateway pledges in Namibia.
Antila said Europe has to get rid of its dependency on Russian gas.
“We have diversified away from Russia to reliable suppliers like the United States, Norway, Algeria and others.
“Last year, Russian gas accounted for 40% of EU gas imports. Today it’s down to 9% of pipeline gas,” Antila said.
“But Russia keeps actively manipulating our energy market,” she said.
Making ends meet is becoming a source of anxiety for millions of businesses and households in Europe, she said.
The executive director in the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Penda Naanda, last year said Namibia exported goods valued at more than N$19 billion to the EU in 2019.
Export products ranged from agricultural and fish products to mining commodities.
According to the European Commission’s list of investments and trade in Namibia, the EU imported raw materials worth N$129 million as well as fuel and mining products worth N$2,2 billion between 2018 and 2021.
Minerals such as lithium, cobalt and copper are essential for digitalisation and renewable energy. Deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah yesterday said the government has already signed a memorandum of understanding on raw materials.
“We look forward to enhanced cooperation with the EU, including through the non-binding memorandum of understanding on sustainable raw materials and renewable hydrogen, currently being negotiated by our respective teams,” she said.
Experts have called for the government to export more refined goods, instead of raw materials, to create more value chains in the country.
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