WINDHOEK, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo on Wednesday called for caution and careful management of the country's energy resources to ensure a sustainable and secure energy future.
During his speech at the three-day Namibia International Energy Conference 2023, which kicked off on Tuesday, Alweendo called for diligence and careful consideration when managing the country's energy resources, emphasizing that Namibia's economy heavily relies on fossil fuels and currently cannot be substituted with renewable energy due to the lack of minerals and materials required for the transition.
"We are a fossil-fuelled economy and currently cannot substitute it with one fuelled by renewables. We lack the minerals and materials needed. We cannot manage the energy transition issue in a simplistic manner," he said. "We need to understand the complexities of energy through the economic, environmental, and political crises we face today, revealing what is really going on and what we should do in response."
Alweendo emphasized the need to address the severe energy shortage in Namibia to improve the livelihoods of people.
He gave the example of Namibia's Green Hydrogen Ambitions, stressing the need for oil, gas, renewables, and other sources to feature in the country's energy basket. Alweendo further emphasized the importance of managing recent oil discoveries in Namibia transparently and inclusively.
He called for responsible custodianship of valuable resources and managing them sustainably for present and future generations, saying this is a critical time that demands critical thinking.
He warned against simplistic approaches to managing the energy transition issue, calling for a balance between growth and de-growth in economies and caution in handling the energy issue to prevent conflicts and ensure sustainable development.
The Namibia International Energy Conference 2023 is being attended by representatives from across Africa, and features panel discussions and presentations.
