Geingob enthusiastic about hydrogen, oil discoveries

• Geingob optimistic
President Hage Geingob also touched on the topic of reviving a national airline, and Namibia's continued role in maintaining peace on the continent.
Ogone Tlhage
  • 9 Month Ago 22 February 2023 - 2023-02-22 05:30:00
In the wake of recent discoveries of oil and gas resources, President Hage Geingob shared his excitement about Namibia’s future prospects.

Geingob made these remarks following his participation in the opening session of the 36th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Oil companies Shell and Total made significant discoveries off the coast of Namibia early last year. The companies are currently engaged in further exploration. With the discovery of oil and the promotion of green hydrogen as part of the energy transition, Geingob said that he was optimistic about the future of Namibia.

Peace keeping efforts to be maintained

In addition, Namibia, Geingob said, would continue to play its role in maintaining peace on the African continent.

Geingob outlined regional efforts to foster peace in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and stressed the primacy of diplomacy over war in resolving the conflict in the eastern DRC.

Geingob stressed that Namibia will continue to support the Luanda and Nairobi Processes as roadmaps for peace in the DRC. “You do not make peace with your friends, you make peace with your enemies,” he said.

Airline revival talks feature

Geingob also held meetings with the top brass of Ethiopian Airlines, with talks centred on finding avenues to restart a flag carrier for Namibia following the demise of Air Namibia in 2021. The president met with Ethiopian Airlines chairman Girma Wake and CEO Mesfin Tasew to discuss avenues of cooperation in Namibia’s efforts to restart a national airline. He said that even if the governing party, Swapo, directed the creation of a national carrier, the matter of reviving a national airline would be properly tabled before the Namibian Cabinet for decisions and operationalisation.