Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo and his Zambian counterpart, Peter Kapala are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for the construction of a natural gas pipeline from Zambia to Walvis Bay.
The two ministers will ink the agreement during the 10th Session of the Namibia-Zambia Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation to take place in Swakopmund from 05-06 October 2022.
State-run Zambia News and Information Service quoted Kapala as saying that the agreement will be signed this month and that the gas will be used for power generation, while an oil pipeline will help reduce the cost of petroleum products in the southern African nation.
Zambia last month signed an agreement with Angola to have a stake in that country’s Lobito Oil Refinery Project which will have a capacity of 200 000 barrels per day.
The project expected to take three to four years to complete will have its main gas and oil power station in Lusaka, Kapala said.
The minister also said that the government intends to embark on regional diplomatic engagements and diversified partnerships in the energy sector as part of efforts to tackle challenges in the energy and petrol sectors.
According to a press statement issued here Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will co-chair the 10th Joint Commission Session with Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Stanley Kakubo.
The meeting is expected to review the implementation of bilateral agreements and memoranda of cooperation in a wide range of areas including trade and commerce, agriculture, fisheries, transport, education and training, youth, and sport and culture.
The two ministers, the statement said, are also expected to exchange views on issues of mutual concern and interest at the regional, continental and multilateral fora. Namibia is the current Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, while Zambia is the Incoming Chair.
The Zambian ministerial delegation is also expected to visit the Port of Walvis Bay, the Oil Storage Facility and the Dry Port of the Republic of Zambia, built on land donated by the Government of Namibia. The Dry Port of the Republic of Zambia has not only made that country sea-linked but also been a key contributor to the increased import and export volumes at the Walvis Bay port.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency