Staff Writer
Organic Energy Solutions (OES), a subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List Group, has become Namibia’s first and only wood-chip biomass company to receive SURE (Sustainable Resources Verification Scheme) certification for energy production. The certification marks a major milestone for Namibia’s renewable energy sector.
The certification follows a three-day audit confirming that OES’s biomass operations meet the strict sustainability requirements of the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). With this, OES joins a small group of SURE-certified energy companies in Namibia, most of which operate in the charcoal industry.
“Being the only SURE-certified wood-chip biomass company in Namibia gives us a strong competitive edge in local and international markets,” said Gero von der Wense, managing director of Organic Energy Solutions.
The certification confirms OES’s compliance with EU sustainability standards, allowing the company to enter premium export markets and supply industries that prioritise environmentally responsible sourcing. “This leadership position enhances our appeal to stakeholders and customers committed to green energy and climate goals,” von der Wense said.
OES harvests biomass exclusively from invasive encroacher bush species that threaten Namibia’s biodiversity, water availability and agricultural productivity. The company’s operations play a key ecological role in restoring balance to the country’s savanna ecosystems.
Franklin Angermund, Public Affairs and Sustainability Manager at Namibia Breweries Limited, one of OES’s main clients, welcomed the certification. “SURE certification directly supports NBL’s Brew a Better Namibia strategy and gives us surety that the biomass supplied to NBL is responsibly sourced, fully traceable and delivers real environmental benefits,” he said.
Progress Kashandula, Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Biomass Industry Group (N-BiG), said the certification was a milestone for Namibia’s biomass sector.
“Having a SURE-certified member like Organic Energy Solutions is a major milestone for N-BiG and Namibia’s biomass sector. It demonstrates that Namibia’s bioenergy value chain meets international sustainability and traceability standards. This achievement strengthens Namibia’s position in global markets and enables the country’s bioenergy products to access the European Union market.”
