Namibia’s mining sector emerged as a dominant economic engine last year, sustaining more than 166,000 direct and indirect jobs as a wave of uranium, gold, copper, and critical mineral projects advanced toward commercial production.
Data released by the Chamber of Mines of Namibia shows the industry directly employed 20,798 people, while its massive footprint triggered an additional 145,586 indirect jobs across the broader economy. Crucially for domestic employment targets, Namibian nationals filled 97% of the 8,201 permanent roles corporate members provided. Meanwhile, a surge in construction and development activity pushed contractor employment to 11,577 positions.
The employment boom translated into a massive windfall for domestic households and state coffers. The sector recorded a total wage bill of N$7.96 billion ($430 million), contributing N$1.5 billion directly to government revenues via pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) taxes.
Mining executives also deepened their reliance on domestic supply chains, injecting N$23.97 billion into local goods and services. That represents 65% of the industry’s total procurement budget and more than a third of total mining revenue, a capital flow the Chamber of Mines noted is actively anchoring small and medium-sized enterprises.
The financial windfall comes as a deep pipeline of asset development positions Namibia to capture rising global demand for energy and green-transition metals.
In the uranium space, Deep Yellow Ltd.’s Tumas project moved toward a final investment decision after securing a debt-funding package led by Nedbank Group Ltd., while Bannerman Energy Ltd. initiated early works at its Etango development.
Activity is similarly accelerating across precious and base metals. Osino Resources Corp.’s Twin Hills gold project is progressing through development with an estimated 13-year mine life, while the Kokoseb gold project delivered positive drilling results confirming large-scale potential.
In critical and industrial metals, Andrada Mining Ltd. continues to advance its lithium and tin portfolio via a strategic joint venture with Chile’s SQM, and Koryx Copper Inc. is moving its Haib Copper project through advanced feasibility stages, targeting a long-life operation.
