The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has unexpectedly cancelled a pre-qualification tender for a new oil and gas supply base at Luderitz, just days after it was announced, without offering any explanation.
The announcement was made on Namport’s official Facebook page on Friday.
The move deals a setback to government plans aimed at speeding up development at Luderitz port, Namibia’s smaller of only two commercial ports and a key energy service hub.
Luderitz has become an exploration hotspot following multiple offshore oil discoveries by Shell, TotalEnergies, Galp, and Rhino Resources.
The country hopes to produce its first oil by 2030, with Luderitz designated as Namibia’s main energy hub.
Despite the momentum in exploration, concerns from investors and operators persist due to regulatory uncertainty, inadequate infrastructure, and a shortage of skilled workers in the oil and gas sector.
Namport launched the tender on Tuesday for a concession to design, build, own, operate, and transfer (DBOOT) the new Luderitz Bay oil and gas supply base to support drilling operations in the Orange Basin.
Don’t Miss This:
Namibia Adopts Ghana’s Gold Strategy To Stabilize Nation’s Economy
“Namport regrets to inform interested parties that the DBOOT concession bid for the Luderitz Bay oil and gas supply base has been cancelled,” the statement on its Facebook page read.
Namport CEO Andrew Kanime did not respond to calls or messages seeking comment.
Luderitz port, located in the far south of Namibia, is also pursuing separate plans to extend its quay wall by at least 300 metres to handle more platform support vessels for the growing offshore oil and gas industry.
Kanime previously told Reuters that TotalEnergies’ operations are supported from Luderitz port, while Shell and Galp use Walvis Bay in the north.
Last year, he noted that berthing space at Luderitz—already shared between fishing and mining cargo, was nearing full capacity.
Don’t Miss This:
Top Uranium Producer Namibia Bids To Join Nuclear Suppliers Group
Image Credit: Motive Technologies
