Walvis Bay:President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has announced that the N$41 billion Dangote Namibia Tank Farm and Regional Pipeline Project will be placed under the direct oversight of the Office of the President. This move aims to accelerate the project’s implementation and prevent bureaucratic delays.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the decision was revealed at the project's groundbreaking ceremony at Farm 58 in Walvis Bay. President Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed concerns over administrative bottlenecks that could hinder the project's progress, emphasizing its importance in strengthening Namibia's energy security and establishing Walvis Bay as a key petroleum distribution hub for southern Africa.
The investment, formalized during Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote's visit to Namibia last year, involves the construction of a petroleum storage facility and a regional pipeline network connecting Namibia with neighboring countries. Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted the project's role in Namibia's Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and reiterated the government's commitment to its swift execution.
Despite the urgency communicated to Dangote, Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed disappointment over the delays that have hampered the project's commencement. She has tasked National Planning Commission Director-General, Ambassador Kaire Mbuende, with coordinating its implementation.
Reflecting on past experiences where Namibia lost significant investments due to bureaucratic hurdles, Nandi-Ndaitwah underscored the critical need for efficiency to foster economic development and reduce poverty. She warned that slow administrative processes could deter investment and prolong poverty, urging a more rapid execution of projects to benefit the country's small population.
The project will feature a petroleum storage facility with a capacity of approximately 600 million litres, including diesel and petrol, alongside loading and dispensing infrastructure. It is anticipated to enhance regional petroleum distribution and trade between Namibia and its neighbors.