AEC’s Verner Ayukegba Tips Namibia to Become Africa’s Next Energy Powerhouse

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

Windhoek, Namibia – Verner Ayukegba, Senior Vice President of the African Energy Chamber (AEC), says Namibia is uniquely placed to be able to develop its resources, not just for the benefit of Namibia but ultimately to be able to power the entire SADC region and even beyond.

Ayukegba was speaking to NBC Digital News at the 7th edition of the Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) 2025 sharing insights on the success of the conference and its importance to the country’s energy industry.

“Namibia is uniquely placed because of where it sits on the map in the continent,” said Verner Ayukegba, Senior Vice President of the African Energy Chamber. “If you look at the amount of solar that you can generate, if you look at the amount of wind that you can generate in that sense, if you look at connectivity to other countries which are bothering Namibia, as well as the enormous oil and gas resources which have been discovered in Namibia.”

“Namibia is uniquely placed to be able to develop all these resources, not just for the benefit of Namibia but ultimately to be able to power the entire SADC region and even beyond. So the notion of a hub is spot on in that sense concerning Namibia.”

The Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) is Namibia’s premier and highly anticipated energy event. The 7th edition took place from 23–25 April 2025 at the Windhoek Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia under the theme ‘Leading The Way: Becoming An Energy Hub with In-Country Value. This conference brought together industry leaders, government officials, and stakeholders from across the region.

Verner shared insights on how well the event was organized and emphasized its significance for Namibia’s energy sector. He pointed out that the conference is a key platform for discussing new energy projects, sharing technical knowledge, and attracting investments that can boost the country’s energy development.

Ayukegba explained that Namibia’s energy industry faces many challenges, such as sourcing sustainable power and reducing reliance on imported energy. The conference gives local experts and international partners a chance to find solutions and work together.

Reflecting on the conference theme, Ayukegba highlighted the importance of creating value chains within the country to ensure that the wealth generated from Namibia’s energy resources benefits its citizens.

“Concerning developing that particular hub, you need to be able to use in-country value chains to ensure that the wealth which is generated in the generation of these resources is ultimately generated within Namibia and stays significantly within Namibia. It's ultimately about avoiding the resource curse,” said Verner Ayukegba.

With its growing portfolio of oil, gas, and renewable energy projects, Namibia stands at a crucial juncture in its development journey. Stakeholders agree that careful planning, strong governance, and a focus on domestic economic growth will be a key factors in unlocking its full energy potential.