By: David Shoombe
The 2026 Mining Expo, which is scheduled for the first week of August, will provide a platform to update the Nation on how the mining sector will account for its 2025 Namibia Public-Private Sector Forum (NamPPF) commitments.
This was revealed by the CEO of the Namibia Chamber of Mines, Fabian Shaanika, at the launch of the 2026 Mining Expo, where he emphasised that the country needs to move from dialogue to delivery.
Shaanika noted that the Expo aims to track progress by having the mining industry report back on how it will advance the commitments that it has made at last year’s Namibia Public-Private Sector Forum.
He stated that the Namibian mining sector committed to creating 18,000 jobs over five years and attracting N$2.6 billion in investment.
He therefore noted that tracking progress is one of the primary objectives of the Expo, and that tracking progress is essential to ensuring accountability and measuring the industry’s achievements.
Answering a question on value addition, he stated that value-addition industries can only exist if primary mining activities are in place.
He therefore noted that it is very important to expand the exploration pipeline.
Shaanika said the current mining portfolio of producing assets needs to continue feeding the mining pipeline and grow to sustain the sector before value addition can be discussed.
He emphasised that value addition is critical for job creation.
However, he stressed that it is equally important for the Chamber to be involved in the national conversation on where to focus efforts in the immediate, medium, and long term, and where the greatest economic benefits can be achieved.
He noted that the Chamber has been involved in crafting Namibia’s National Mineral Beneficiation Strategy.
The Mining Expo will showcase both local and foreign miners, service providers, and other related suppliers.
Moreover, Shaanika highlighted that it will be an ideal platform for local suppliers and potential mining providers to engage with miners.
