Namport is preparing the Port of Lüderitz Bay to support investments in green energy, oil and gas.
The infrastructural development plans for Lüderitz Bay will expand the port’s capacity to keep up with the current and future cargo volumes, as well as new industries such as green hydrogen, oil and gas.
“The port’s strategic location makes it an ideal hub for oil, gas and green hydrogen production in Namibia, which is expected to attract more businesses and investments in various sectors,” a Namport spokesperson told Freight News.
Namport port engineer Elzevir Gelderbloem told the media that Phase 1 of the envisaged expansion would double the port’s cargo handling capacity from three to six million tonnes a year.
This will alleviate increasing pressure on the current facility’s physical capacity within Robert Harbour to accommodate dry bulk, breakbulk and containerised cargo as well as increased logistics services to the offshore oil and gas operations.
Expansion plans for Robert Harbour itself are at an advanced stage but environmental impact assessment studies are ongoing, and no work will commence until all required approvals are in place.
Should all approvals be obtained in time, Phase 1 of the expansion plans may be realised by 2026/7, the spokesperson said.
Longer-term plans for the Port of Lüderitz are focused around a new deepwater section of the port at Angra Point in the adjacent bay, which will be able to accommodate a number of terminals.
The first will be a green ammonia export terminal, which could be realised as early as 2028 – a development which in itself will require extensive project cargo support.
Future terminals at Angra Point will be driven by demand over the next 30 years or more, according to the spokesperson.
A formal environmental impact assessment study must be completed before work can start on the proposed terminal in the environmentally sensitive area.
“Namport respects the significance of any and all national heritage sites and will not undertake any project that will significantly negatively impact on any such sites located within its project areas.
“With the Port of Lüderitz Robert Harbour extension being situated next to Shark Island, the potential negative impacts to Shark Island will be studied and investigated comprehensively by independent parties - and all those affected, such as the local communities, will be extensively consulted.”
