The Namibian Government plans to introduce a state-coordinated petroleum import system by September 2026 as part of efforts to reduce fuel costs and improve efficiency in the country’s fuel supply chain.
In a statement issued on May 30, 2026, Namibia’s Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse, said the government is finalising Bulk Petroleum Import Coordination Regulations that will enable the state to oversee the importation of all petroleum products. According to the minister, the proposed reforms will lower fuel import costs by consolidating national demand, achieving economies of scale and eliminating additional premiums charged above the basic fuel price.
The move comes as Namibia faces mounting pressure from rising global oil prices linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. To shield consumers from higher fuel prices, the government has already committed more than 1 billion Namibian dollars (about US$62 million) in subsidies.
Amutse said the country’s immediate challenge is the rising cost of fuel rather than supply shortages, warning that without government intervention, fuel prices would increase sharply from July 2026, with knock-on effects on transport, food prices and other essential goods.
He added that if conditions in the international oil market remain difficult, the government may invite suppliers to participate in future procurement exercises under the new coordinated import framework.