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namib times SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6961 FRIDAY 22 APRIL 2022
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Namport scouts for international port terminal operator Rudi Bowe The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) announced on Thursday, 14 April, they are scouting for an International Port Terminal Operator for the new N$4-billion-dollar container terminal at Walvis Bay for operations of the next 25 years. This announcement finally put to rest the speculation around the leasing of the new container terminal. Namport CEO, Andrew Kanime said that the outsourcing of the container terminal has became a reality when the dynamics in the shipping industry significantly shifted on the back of depressed macro-economic conditions which negatively impacted industries across all sectors. Kanime said, “after it's inauguration in 2019, the new container terminal never handled the amounts of containers it was expected to. The decrease in the volumes of containers that have been handled by Namport can
be attributed to two main factors: container vessels growing in size, and declining global economic conditions hampering imports and exports through Walvis Bay.” Kanime said they have appointed international consultancy firm Maritime Business and Transport Solutions (MTBS) to assist with the process to solicit reputable operators for the container terminal. MTBS has advanced significantly with the process of solicit proposals as eight international port terminal operators have up until last week Thursday, positively responded. The closing date for proposals is early May 2022, with the new operator to start as early as January 2023. According to Kanime,
the N$4.2 billion investment will not be sold, but they will enter into a specialised lease arrangement, where the operator runs the terminal and handles the containers in lieu of an upfront payment to Namport. “The 300 people employed at new container terminal have been briefed about the development, and that they will be employed by the new operator. The signing of the agreement will also see to it that jobs at the new container terminal will not be affected, although the terminal will be operating independ e n t l y, ” K a n i m e continued. Kanime explained that the decision to outsource the container terminal is in line with Continues on page 2
Health Director confirms financial assistance from medical aids for Covid-19 vaccines Eileen van der Schyff
inside Lifeguards now on Swakop beaches
Executive Director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Ben Nangombe confirmed this week, medical aid funds, on behalf of their members, are financially assisting the government by making payments directly to finance for the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines, and only reflects on members' statements for audit reasons. Several confused and infuriated residents contacted the Namib Times this week after seeing the indication on their statements. One resident presented the newspaper with an explanation letter from her medical aid. The letter reads: “The industry met with the MoHSS to discuss the vaccination campaign. The Board of trustees of the medical aid agreed to pay N$713.68 for each member who receives the vaccine. The indication on member's statements is purely for auditing pur-
poses as well as data collection. No member will pay for the vaccine and the cost thereof will not be deducted from the member's day to day benefit. The board of trustees felt that due to the fact that Namibia is going through a pandemic, and its serious economic effects, that it has a social responsibility to assist the Ministry of Health and all medical aid members. The cost of N$713.68 is for all vaccines and does not necessarily include a cost for the vaccine itself, it is for main-
taining the cold chain, all the consumables required and to financially assist the government in rolling out this extensive campaign, in an effort to prevent deaths due to the virus of all Namibians.” The statement concludes: 'Members should remember they themselves, nominated and voted for the Board of Trustees to make decisions on their behalf, this decision was made by the whole industry and include all Boards of all Funds.
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First private crematorium
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Namibia activates oil boom Eileen van der Schyff
Support group in aid of neuro diversity
Namibia, one of Africa's final frontiers for oil and gas exploration, stimulates the appetite of regional and International Oil Companies (IOC), with its rich offshore basins, paving the way to a new era of enhanced exploration and production, positioning Namibia as a highly competitive and increasingly lucrative upstream destination, sparking international interest in its upstream market while making a strong case for oil and gas exploration on the African continent in 2022 and beyond. Namibia has vast natural resources estimated at 11 billion barrels of oil and 2.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves. After the Graff-1 Well Discovery of light sizable quantities of light oil offshore Namibia in late February this year by the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR), partnered
with Shell Namibia, Upstream B.V. and Quatar Energy, and TotalEnergies that has also embarked on a series of exploration activities in the country, with the French multinational's significant discovery of light oil on the Venus prospect, located in the Orange Basin offshore Namibia, favoured with
the country's favourable regulatory environment, is set to create an influx in new international investment. Participating Interest expansion includes Canadian independent exploration company, Reconnaissance Energy Africa (ReconAfrica) that has entered into an agreement with the Continues on page 2
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