By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Hangala
Namport has re-submitted a comprehensive application in April 2026 to expand its Lüderitz Port for the National Heritage Council’s consideration, according to the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, updates to Parliament last week.
The National Heritage Council (NHC) rejected Namport’s application and Heritage Impact Assessment in 2024 due to the site’s sensitive heritage status.
The updates revealed that the new application was accompanied by several specialist studies, including a Visual Impact Assessment, Noise Impact Assessment, and an Underwater Archaeological Assessment, as requested.
The application is currently before the council for consideration, and the outcome of this evaluation will be communicated through appropriate channels to Namport.
Namport’s attempt to develop Lüderitz to accommodate the growing need for port services and to create capacity for the GH2 and the oil and gas sector has been met with challenges due to the historical and heritage significance of the area.
According to the Culture Ministry, the challenge for Namibia regarding the potential expansion of the port at Shark Island is therefore not whether development should occur, but how development can occur while preserving the site’s historical, cultural, and memorial significance.
As a result, the Ministry requires that every proposed development at a declared heritage site, including Shark Island or any other heritage site in Namibia, must be accompanied by a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) that outlines potential impacts and recommends mitigation measures.
The HIA for the proposed expansion was submitted, reviewed, and formally rejected by the National Heritage Council (NHC) on 31 July 2024 due to the site’s sensitive heritage status.
NHC was further informed by Namport, that the rejection was premature, pending completion of critical studies such as underwater, noise, and visual impact assessments.
Thus, the port authority has now resubmitted the application with relevant studies.
The Ministry of Arts and Culture has explained that the most relevant lesson for Namibia is that sites associated with difficult histories, war, colonialism, slavery, or human suffering can be protected while allowing adjacent economic infrastructure to expand.
For Shark Island, if endorsed by the National Heritage Council (NHC), the most sustainable approach would be a heritage-sensitive port expansion strategy.
Within this development, the core memorial landscape will be preserved and enhanced, while Namport’s expansion occurs through carefully planned buffer zones, alternative infrastructure layouts, and rigorous heritage impact assessments.
“Such a model would allow Namibia to pursue economic growth while safeguarding one of the country’s most historically significant sites for future generations,” the Ministry wrote.
The Ministry has indicated that the National Heritage Council, through its Heritage Education Programme, will continue to raise awareness about the site’s significance and educate the public on activities that are compatible with the preservation of its heritage values.
To date, three stakeholder meetings have been held (2 July, 28 July, and 29 July 2024); the meeting of 29th July brought together several stakeholders involving the !Aman Community, Namport, NTLA, and the Ovaherero Genocide Foundation, among others.
According to the Ministry records, the deliberations covered the transfer process, NHC’s future management plans, Namport’s proposed development, and stakeholder contributions.
The Ministry and NHC will continue to organise similar consultation meetings in order to ensure that the public and stakeholders are informed of all developments in respect of Shark Island.
In line with Section 58 of the National Heritage Act (No. 27 of 2004), the NHC will develop a Conservation and Management Plan for Shark Island in consultation with key stakeholders.
This plan is expected to mitigate risks, prevent destruction, support informed decision-making, and enhance interpretation of the site’s heritage values.
erastus@thevillager.com.na
