The Namibian Ports Authority has rejected a proposal by a Ghanaian-led consortium to develop an N$4-billion (about US$244 million) oil and gas supply base at the Port of Lüderitz, dealing a setback to the company’s expansion plans in Namibia’s emerging offshore energy industry.
According to local media outlet The Namibian, the project, led by Alpha Nautical Services Limited, also known as Anol, was designed to support offshore exploration, production and logistics as Namibia expands infrastructure for its emerging petroleum industry.
However, Namport concluded that Anol had not demonstrated the financial strength, technical expertise, delivery capacity and operational experience needed to develop and manage the facility.
The project is a partnership between Namport and the Namibia Industrial Development Agency, which Namibia’s Cabinet tasked in 2025 with finding a private developer for a 25-year design, build, own, operate and transfer concession.
Namport chief executive Andrew Kanime said the authority based its assessment on documents submitted by Anol.
“Namport has since carried out an assessment of Anol’s capacity based on a review of the documents available on Anol’s data room,” Kanime writes.
He added: “Therefore, our considered assessment based on the submission made is that Anol does not meet the technical capability and track record requirements for the set-up and operation of an oil and gas supply base at Lüderitz,” the letter reads.
Earlier negotiations over ownership
The rejection follows months of negotiations over the N$4-billion project.
In February 2026, the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida) said it planned to hold a 51% stake, while Adu-Boahene and other partners would share the remaining 49 per cent.
Nida’s acting chief executive, Phillip Namundjebo, met Adu-Boahene and Namport chief executive Andrew Kanime in Walvis Bay to discuss the project’s implementation, governance and ownership structure.
The project had also attracted interest from businessman Josef Andreas, who said he was conducting due diligence to help raise the required capital.
Andreas previously chaired Guinas Investments, a company linked to Namibia’s ruling Swapo party, which had also sought involvement before Namport rejected its unsolicited proposal.
At the time, disagreements had emerged over whether the supply base should proceed through a state-led consortium or an open competitive process, an issue that has resurfaced following Namport’s rejection of Anol’s proposal.
Anol rejects findings
Meanwhile, Anol denied that it lacked the financial, technical or operational capacity to deliver the project.
The company is owned by Ghanaian entrepreneur Jory Adu-Boahene, who is active in marine logistics and offshore energy support services across West and Southern Africa, and works with Namibian partners.
Adu-Boahene said the consortium established a Namibian entity to comply with local ownership requirements.
“Anol established a Namibian entity rather than proceeding through a foreign structure, to comply with Namibian laws, which in turn has been used by Namport to understate and disparage Anol’s capability and past experience,” he said.
He also questioned the consistency of Namport’s evaluation process.
“It is worth noting that Namport has recently awarded a similar project to a 100% foreign entity, Soneils, raising questions about consistency in their evaluation criteria and perhaps circumvention of Namibian laws, and punishing entities that comply with Namibian law.”
