Windhoek: Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has assured Namibians that the government has moved swiftly to safeguard the country's fuel supply amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that could disrupt global oil trade routes.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Ngurare provided this assurance in the National Assembly while responding to an urgent oral question from Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani. Venaani had sought clarity on the government's preparedness in case the conflict in the Middle East affects Namibia's oil imports. He expressed concerns about the escalating tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, emphasizing the volatility of the situation.

Venaani highlighted Namibia's reliance on oil transported through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route for global energy supplies. He questioned whether the government has established a task force to explore alternative supply options should the route become inaccessible. 'We have been given assurance that we have a three-month stockpile of oil in our depots, but what has the government put in place in terms of a task team to ensure that if we cannot use the Strait of Hormuz, we can source oil from other countries?' Venaani asked. He warned that a prolonged conflict in the region could threaten Namibia's energy security without contingency measures.

Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse, informed Parliament last week that the country's fuel supply is expected to remain stable for the next three months, despite rising global oil prices driven by tensions in the Middle East. In his response, Ngurare confirmed that the government has already begun coordinating efforts to address the potential risk to Namibia's fuel supply chain.

Referring to the earlier briefing by Amutse, Ngurare stated that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has instructed the government to promptly assess possible options to ensure the country is not caught unprepared should the situation deteriorate. 'It is indeed a geopolitical conundrum where all nations are concerned, but I wish to assure the Honourable Member and the country that the government is seized with the matter and is working with various stakeholders on this very same issue,' he said.