Andre Klynsmith

Ports and Terminals

Lüderitz Port Gets a N$4 Billion Makeover as Namibia Builds Its Oil and Gas Supply Base

Namport is investing N$4 billion to expand the Port of Lüderitz into a full-scale oil and gas supply base, preparing Namibia's southern harbour for the next phase of the country's offshore energy boom. Phase 1 construction — a 500-metre quay wall extension and 14 hectares of reclaimed land — is expected to begin in 2026, with commissioning targeted for mid-2027.

Ports and Terminals

14 March 2026 • 4 min read

Namibia's Orange Basin offshore discoveries — among the largest oil finds globally in the past decade — need a supply base. Lüderitz, the country's second port, has been selected for the role. With cargo capacity set to double from 3 to 6 million tonnes per year, this expansion will reshape logistics planning for every operator working the Namibian coast.

What Is Being Built

Phase 1 of the Lüderitz port expansion involves extending the main quay wall by 500 metres at a depth of 9 metres and reclaiming approximately 14 hectares of sea area to serve as backup land for the extended quay. The reclaimed land will accommodate laydown areas for offshore supply vessels, pipe storage, and equipment staging. The Environmental Impact Assessment was completed in early 2026, the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) is in progress, and the EPC tender is expected by mid-2026.

Phase 2, planned for a later date, will demolish the existing wooden jetty in the southernmost part of Robert Harbour, reclaim a further 3 hectares of sea area, and construct a new concrete jetty at the north end of the reclaimed area. Together, the two phases will more than double Lüderitz's current capacity.

Why Lüderitz, and Why Now

The driver is Namibia's offshore oil and gas sector. TotalEnergies' Venus discovery and Shell's Graff and Jonker finds in the Orange Basin are estimated to hold billions of barrels of recoverable oil — among the most significant deepwater discoveries anywhere in the world since 2022. As these fields move toward development, they will require a steady supply chain of drilling equipment, subsea hardware, chemicals, and provisions. Lüderitz, located closest to the southern Orange Basin blocks, is the logical supply base.

Walvis Bay, Namibia's main commercial port, is already under pressure from growing container, bulk, and transit cargo volumes. Routing oil and gas supply logistics through Lüderitz prevents congestion at Walvis Bay and gives offshore operators a dedicated, purpose-built facility. Namport has also indicated that it is exploring public-private partnership (PPP) models to fund the expansion, which could bring in international port operators with oil and gas supply chain expertise.

Implications for the SADC Freight Network

The Lüderitz expansion is not just a port story — it is a corridor story. Equipment and materials for the offshore fields will need to be transported overland from Windhoek, South Africa, and potentially from Walvis Bay. The B4 road between Lüderitz and Keetmanshoop, and the rail link connecting Lüderitz to the national network, will both need to handle increased traffic. Namport's expansion may trigger road and rail upgrades that benefit the broader freight network.

For South African logistics firms, the Lüderitz expansion opens a new market. Many of the specialised logistics companies serving the oil and gas sector in South Africa — heavy lift, project cargo, offshore vessel provisioning — could find contracts flowing north to Namibia. Similarly, Namibian freight operators who position themselves early as Lüderitz supply chain partners could secure long-term contracts with the energy majors and their Tier 1 contractors.

About the Author
	Andre Klynsmith Entrepreneur & Technology Enthusiast Andre's expertise spans technology, blockchain, transport, and logistics -- with a passion for innovation and driving positive change across industries. info@laaimylorrie.com | laaimylorrie.com