Windhoek: The 13th Chamber of Mines Expo and Conference opened in Windhoek on Wednesday, marking a historic milestone as all available exhibition space was fully booked for the first time in the event's history.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Chamber of Mines President George Botshiwe disclosed that the 2026 expo features a record 204 exhibitors across 372 exhibition spaces. "For the first time in this event, every available exhibition space at these showgrounds has been fully booked. These numbers are far more than statistics. They represent the confidence that these exhibitors have in the country and in the mining industry," Botshiwe said.
The participant contingent includes 18 regional companies from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), six international exhibitors, and a strong turnout of local Namibian businesses. Reinforcing the sector's strategic trajectory, Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse declared that mining in Namibia remains a thriving sector with vast growth potential.
Amutse announced that the long-awaited Mineral Beneficiation Policy is under development and will be submitted to the President's office by the end of August. "At the centre of our vision for the mining sector is the imperative of meaningful local participation throughout the mining value chain. To unlock the full potential of our mineral resources, we must move beyond the mere extraction of raw materials," Amutse noted.
Local beneficiation and domestic value chain addition are not simply economic aspirations, but essential pillars of national aspirations, national sovereignty, industrialisation, job creation, and sustainable economic growth, he added. Addressing policy and operational requirements, Botshiwe stressed that converting Namibia's mining pipeline into tangible economic growth requires removing critical technical and regulatory obstacles, particularly regarding water supply and pending legislation such as the Minerals Bill.
"This conference provides an important opportunity not to simply revisit the discussions of NamPPF, but to honestly assess where progress has been made and where challenges remain, and how government, industry, and other stakeholders can continue working together to unlock the next generation of mining projects," Botshiwe stated.
The conference also marks an executive administrative transition within the Chamber of Mines, serving as the final expo for outgoing Chief Executive Officer Veston Malango, with incoming CEO Fabian Shaanika stepping into the leadership role.