THE Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has paused a pre-qualification tender for a new oil and gas supply base at Lüderitz due to heritage considerations of the project impacting Shark Island.
The project to build, own and operate the oil and gas supply base at Lüderitz goes in line with the multiple oil and gas explorations the country has seen take off in the offshore Orange Basin.
This is not the only commercial activity that has come to a halt due to Shark Island’s heritage considerations, with Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) decommissioning Shark Island tourism activities as well recently.
The thrashing cold Atlantic waters and severe windy conditions of the island were in the past among the German colonial army’s “environmental weaponization” strategies and served as an extermination camp for prisoners captured during the genocide campaign against the Ovaherero and Nama people from 1905 to 1907.
Questioned on the cancellation of the project, which has dashed ambitions of fast-tracking development in the port town and positioning it as a key role player in the oil and gas supply industry in southern Africa, Cliff Shikuambi, Public Relations Officer within Namport, explained that the decision to cancel the bid was informed by several factors.
He added that there are serious indications of public and stakeholder confusion and misalignment regarding this project and the current Environmental Impact Assessment study that is currently underway for the project in Robert Harbour, which includes a heritage impact assessment study on possible impacts to Shark Island.
“Following this important consideration, Namport deemed it most appropriate to first clear up these misconceptions with the public and key stakeholders and not unduly risk compromising an otherwise very sensitive and important environmental impact assessment study,” Shikuambi said.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Contributed
