South Africa, Namibia Eye Closer Energy Ties

Posted 22 November 2006 @ 07:45 am EET     Print     Reprint     E-Mail     Comments

WINDHOEK (AP) - The leaders of neighbouring South Africa and Namibia pledged to open a new chapter in bilateral relations as they signed a joint trade agreement, largely focusing on energy supplies.

After the first top-level meeting in three years, South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki said he was determined not to allow a similar period to elapse before the next such talks with his host in Windhoek, Hifikepunye Pohamba.

"We will meet more often from now on to discuss important projects like energy supply," said Mbeki.

Mbeki said he was particularly interested in further discussions about the development of the Kudu gas field off the Namibian coast which is likely to be a key source of energy for South Africa once it is up and running.

He also expressed hope that a restoration of calm in the conflict-ridden Democratic Republic of Congo would benefit the whole southern African region.

"Now that the Democratic Republic of Congo is stabilised, the implementation of regional projects will make progress," he said in reference to a planned hydro power project on the Congo River near the Inga Rapids.

Angola, South Africa, DRC, Angola and Botswana are all involved in the project, which is to supply electricity to vast swathes of central and southern Africa.

Pohamba told reporters at State House that Namibia and South Africa had agreed to work together on a total of 48 projects as part of a so-called Spatial Development Initiative.

"This will entail the sectors of energy, tourism, mining, agriculture and fisheries," Pohamba said.

Such an initiative would have "the potential to combine our economic growth South Africa is our largest trading partner," the Namibian leader added.

Namibia, a one-time German colony formerly known as South-West Africa, only gained independence from South Africa in 1990 after a lengthy civil war.

Mbeki was accompanied by three members of his cabinet, Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin, Environment and Tourism Minister Martinus van Schalkwyk and Trade and Industry Minister Mpahlwa Mandise.

According to Namibia's Trade and Industry Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko, progress was made over the Kudu gas field development. "We looked at issues hampering progress with the project," he said.

Other topics discussed were the development of a regional customs union and the possible economic benefits to accrue from the 2010 football World Cup in South Africa.

Namibia and South Africa intend opening border posts at two nature parks straddling across their border, in the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Nature Park along the Orange River and in the Kalahari Gemsbok Park.

"On our side we will construct border posts to allow free flow of tourists from both countries," Namibian tourism minister Willem Konjore told AP, "We envisage completion by the middle of next year."

President Mbeki and his entourage returned to South Africa late Tuesday.