The Namibian Ports Authority, Namport, has closed tenders for a major expansion project at Walvis Bay's South Port, aimed at supporting the development of the Venus oil field. The project involves the construction of new berths and upgrades to existing facilities, with construction scheduled to commence in early 2027. This development is part of a phased expansion programme designed to prepare Walvis Bay and Lüderitz for increased oil and gas activity.
The tender evaluation and contract awards are expected to follow soon, according to Namport. The expansion project is crucial in addressing capacity requirements as offshore exploration and development activities increase. The authority has also been developing plans for two dedicated oil and gas supply bases, one at each port, which are currently at tender or concession-negotiation stage. These supply bases will provide additional capacity for offshore supply vessels, equipment storage, and logistics services.
The Lüderitz supply-base tender closed on 26 October 2026, with bids received now due for evaluation. Namport's expansion programme is designed around timelines provided by oil and gas operators, including TotalEnergies. The authority has been in discussions with operators over several years to understand their infrastructure requirements. The planned investments will increase capacity at both ports to accommodate future demand from the sector.
The Walvis Bay South Port project will add new berths and upgrade existing facilities to address capacity requirements. This development comes amid questions about whether existing port infrastructure can accommodate multiple oil developers operating offshore Namibia. Namport's port expansion plans will be implemented in phases, with short-, medium- and long-term projects aligned with the expected requirements of oil and gas operators.
In the 2025 financial year, Namport reported a significant increase in operating profit, driven by sustained cargo and marine service volumes, as well as concession revenue. The company's operating profit increased by N$245 million, or 45%, to N$793 million. Total revenue at the group level increased by 12%, from N$2.56 billion in 2024 to N$2.88 billion in 2025.
Namport's financial performance in 2025 also saw an improvement in profitability ratios, with the authority's return on assets increasing to 8.22% and the group's to 9.20%. Container volumes have shown a generally upward trajectory, increasing from 155,980 TEUs in 2020/21 to 171,151 TEUs in 2023/24. In 2024/25, performance accelerated sharply with concessioning, resulting in a 48% year-on-year increase to 253,996 TEUs.
Cross-border cargo volumes also increased by 13% in 2024/25, driven by a rebound in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Botswana volumes. The growth was supported by increased mining output and stronger return cargo flows from Zambia. The authority's expansion plans and financial performance demonstrate its commitment to supporting the growth of the oil and gas sector in Namibia.
Key points
- Construction of the Walvis Bay South Port expansion project is set to start in early 2027.
- Namport's expansion programme is designed around timelines provided by oil and gas operators, including TotalEnergies.
- The authority's financial performance in 2025 saw a significant increase in operating profit and profitability ratios.
