Africa-Press – Namibia. MINISTER of mines and energy Tom Alweendo says environmentalists and those with environmental concerns around the exploration and drilling of oil and gas in Namibia are from countries which have developed thanks to oil and gas.
Alweendo spoke at the Ministry of Mines and Energy’s information-sharing session regarding emerging opportunities in the mining and energy industry at Rundu last week.
The minister said ReconAfrica is a potential investor, and is therefore welcome.
He said oil is being drilled in European countries and the Americas.
“They drilled just like we are drilling, and when their economies grew and created the world they never had, and developed their people, suddenly they are now telling us to stop doing it,” Alweendo said.
He asked why Namibia cannot explore oil and gas since environmental management plans are in place.
Alweendo said he is more concerned about the livelihoods of Namibians.
“It worries me when you have unemployment of 34% and youth unemployment of 40%, and you have a development index as low as it is, and you are being told don’t use the resource you have – even with the best environmental management plans in place – because it’s going to pollute the environment,” he said.
The minister said environmental management is part of the country’s Constitution, and Namibia is probably the only country with the protection of the environment as part of its Constitution, apart from the Environmental Management Act.
“We need to make sure whatever we need to do, it should not destroy the environment, and the rule of the game is that whoever is going to do exploration, whether it is ReconAfrica or Total Energies or any other mining company, they need to make sure they have an environmental management plan to minimise environmental degradation.
“Nobody says it may not cause environmental problems. It is going to happen, but you cannot say we should stop doing anything at all because of that, and insist that those investors and companies who are doing those kinds of activities, mining, oil exploration, including gas, must stop.
“All we need in this case is that they have an environmental management plan as per our legislation,” Alweendo said.
He said in the ministry’s view, ReconAfrica is an investor which has followed the rules, and has obtained all the required permits.
Where they did not obtain licences, they were asked to make sure they obtained permits, he said.
“If we want to stop this, we are shooting ourselves in the foot,” Alweendo said.
The minister said before Russia’s war in Ukraine started, Europe decided not to use fossil fuel for electricity, because it pollutes the environment, and closed down their fossil fuel plants.
The Russia-Ukraine issue has, however, forced them to reopen the plants due to an energy crisis.
“Is their crisis worth more than us having poverty and inequality in the country?” Alweendo asked.
Kavango East regional governor Bonifatius Wakudumo at the event said Namibians could not be lectured about the preservation of its natural resources and environment.
Policies and mechanisms on how the country should preserve its natural resources are in place, he said.
“People should not undermine our capacity in terms of preserving our natural resources,” Wakudumo said.
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