Renthia Kaimbi
The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has rejected allegations by the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) over the Lüderitz Oil Supply Base tender and its business associations, describing the claims as inaccurate.
In a media statement issued on Wednesday, Namport chief executive officer Andrew Kanime responded to three claims made by the opposition party.
He addressed the cancellation of the design, build, own, operate and transfer tender; the involvement of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency; and the role of Tradeport Namibia at the Port of Lüderitz.
Kanime first dealt with the cancelled DBOOT tender. He dismissed suggestions that Namport had withdrawn the tender without explanation. He referred to earlier public statements that outlined the reasons for the decision.
“An important consideration in the decision to cancel the DBOOT tender was the clear indication of public and stakeholder confusion and misalignment regarding this DBOOT oil and gas project and the planned expansion of Namport’s existing non-oil and gas operations,” Kanime explained.
He said some environmental concerns linked to a separate non-oil and gas expansion project, including a heritage impact assessment on Shark Island, were wrongly linked to the DBOOT project.
“Hence, Namport deemed it most appropriate to first clear up these misconceptions and decided to cancel the DBOOT tender in order not to unduly compromise and possibly delay the DBOOT oil and gas project through environment-related challenges from stakeholders and local communities,” he added.
Kanime then addressed claims that NIDA was brought in to bypass NamPort’s procurement processes. He rejected this.
He said NamPort remains the legal custodian of the country’s port infrastructure, but its law allows it to work with public and private partners.
“Hence noting NIDA’s mandate as a state institution tasked with overseeing the country’s industrialisation drive and given the need to fully capitalize on the immense potential and benefits which stand to be earned by the country from the development and operationalization of the strategic oil and gas industry, a considered decision was taken that Namport and NIDA would constitute a formidable partnership,” Kanime stated.
He said the two institutions have complementary mandates and will still jointly procure a development partner for the supply base through a competitive process.
“Therefore, the assertion in the IPC press release that NIDA was brought onboard to bypass Namport’s procurement process is incorrect, and there is nothing untoward nor underhand in the collaboration,” he said.
Kanime also responded to allegations involving Tradeport Namibia, owned by Nande Ndaitwah, the son of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. He confirmed that Namport has had a business relationship with Tradeport since 2019 but said the company only handles manganese exports from South Africa’s Northern Cape Province.
He said there is “absolutely no substance” to claims that Tradeport is involved in oil and gas activities at the port.
“Specifically, and contrary to the assertions in the IPC press release, Tradeport does not provide any fuel to Namport or other customers at both Ports and is not involved in the ongoing oil and gas activities at both Ports,” Kanime said.
He explained that Tradeport operates from Lüderitz’s bulk terminal, which is separate from the area set aside for oil and gas industry services.
Kanime said it is unfortunate that the manganese business, which has boosted cargo volumes at the port since 2019, is now being linked to the oil and gas sector.
