Etango Strategic Financing Completes US$320.4 Million Investment
Bannerman Energy has completed a US$320.4 million strategic financing transaction with CNNC Overseas Limited, establishing the Etango project partnership and clearing a major funding condition ahead of a targeted final investment decision.
SOURCE SIGNAL
Bannerman Energy has completed its US$320.4 million strategic financing transaction with CNNC Overseas Limited for the Etango Uranium Project in Namibia.
Completion occurred on 24 September 2026 and finalised the formation of the project’s incorporated joint-venture structure. The transaction comprises a US$294.5 million investment into Bannerman Energy’s United Kingdom subsidiary and a US$25.9 million reimbursement to Bannerman for project expenditure.
The resulting underlying economic ownership of Etango is 52.25% Bannerman, 42.75% CNOL and 5% for Namibia’s One Economy Foundation on a loan-carried basis.
Bannerman reports that, following the transaction and settlement of its institutional equity placement, it is funded for its forecast remaining share of Etango working capital through construction, ramp-up and targeted commercial production.
A final investment decision remains pending. Transaction completion should therefore not be described as Etango entering full-scale construction or commercial operation.
COUNTRY IMPACT
The completed transaction brings substantial strategic capital into a Namibian uranium development and establishes a long-term partnership between Bannerman and a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation.
For Namibia, this strengthens the funding platform behind a potential new uranium mine while retaining an economic interest for a Namibian social-impact organisation through the One Economy Foundation.
If Etango reaches final investment decision and proceeds into construction, the project could generate significant requirements for engineering, civil works, equipment, transport, local procurement, workforce development and supporting services.
Those outcomes remain dependent on the final investment decision and subsequent project execution. The present milestone is the completion of the strategic financing transaction, not the start of full-scale construction.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
Etango is not located at SUNGATE, and neither Bannerman nor CNOL has announced an operating connection with the development.
Its relevance lies in the wider commercial and service economy created when a large mining project moves closer to investment and construction.
Mining-project execution brings investors, engineers, contractors, technical specialists, equipment suppliers and professional advisers into Namibia. It also creates movement between mining regions, Windhoek, Walvis Bay and international markets.
SUNGATE is a 408-hectare master-planned mixed-use development adjacent to Hosea Kutako International Airport and positioned at the convergence of air, road and rail. The Etango transaction therefore strengthens a broader long-term signal for commercial services, logistics coordination, business travel, accommodation and supporting infrastructure without implying direct demand at SUNGATE.
SOURCE
Bannerman Energy Ltd / Namibia Securities Exchange, “Completion of CNOL Strategic Financing Transaction,” 25 September 2026.
N$4 Billion Financing Approval Advances Namibia–Angola Power Link
Government has approved the N$4 billion financing structure for the Angola–Namibia Transmission Interconnector and granted concurrence for execution of the National Energy Fund loan agreement with NamPower.
SOURCE SIGNAL
The Namibian government has formally approved the N$4 billion financing arrangement for the Angola–Namibia Transmission Interconnector, known as the ANNA Project.
The structure includes N$1.1 billion advanced by NamPower and N$700 million committed through the National Energy Fund. Of the NEF commitment, N$350 million is intended for the 2026/27 financial year and N$350 million for 2027/28.
The remaining N$2.3 billion is expected to be financed through the NEF’s Strategic Fuel Storage Levy. Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah has granted concurrence for the financing arrangement and execution of the NEF loan agreement with NamPower.
The project includes a 166-kilometre, 400 kV transmission line between Namibia’s Kunene substation and the Cahama substation in Angola, together with a 270-kilometre connection between the Omatando and Otjikoto substations.
Completion is scheduled for 2029, but the previously planned groundbreaking has not yet been confirmed. The financing approval therefore advances the project materially without establishing that construction has started.
COUNTRY IMPACT
The ANNA Project is intended to connect the Angolan electricity system more closely with Namibia and the Southern African Power Pool.
For Namibia, the interconnector can diversify available electricity sources and provide access to surplus Angolan generation, including hydropower. This could strengthen security of supply as domestic electricity demand increases and reduce exposure to individual import routes or suppliers.
The project would also expand the regional electricity-trading network and create infrastructure through which Angola could participate more fully in the Southern African Power Pool.
Its eventual impact will depend on completion of the remaining agreements, procurement, construction and commissioning. The 2029 completion date remains a target rather than an operating milestone.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
The ANNA transmission infrastructure is not located at SUNGATE and does not establish a dedicated electricity supply for the development.
Its relevance is national and structural.
SUNGATE is a 408-hectare master-planned mixed-use development adjacent to Hosea Kutako International Airport and positioned at the convergence of air, road and rail. Long-term commercial, logistics, hospitality, light-industrial and supporting-service development depends on reliable national electricity infrastructure.
A larger and more interconnected power system can strengthen the operating environment in which major Namibian developments attract investors and businesses. For SUNGATE, the ANNA financing approval is therefore an indirect enabling-infrastructure signal rather than evidence of a site-specific electricity commitment.
SOURCE
Namibian Sun, “N$4bn approved for Baynes power link,” 24 September 2026.
Okatope Solar Project Moves to Selection-for-Award Stage
NamPower has issued an ANIREP-led joint venture with a Notice for Selection of Award for the 20 MWac Okatope solar project, advancing the proposed facility into the final procurement and contracting stage.
SOURCE SIGNAL
NamPower has issued a Notice for Selection of Award to a joint venture comprising Alpha Namibia Industries Renewable Power Limited, TotalEnergies S.A.S and Sinco Investment One Hundred Seventy-Eight for the Okatope Solar Photovoltaic Power Project.
The proposed facility will have approximately 25.15 MWdc of installed solar capacity and an export capacity of 20 MWac for supplying electricity to Namibia’s national grid.
The notice was issued under Namibia’s public-procurement framework. It remains subject to final award and the execution of a power purchase agreement and related agreements with NamPower.
The current milestone is therefore formal selection for award. It is not yet a completed power purchase agreement, financial close, construction start or operating generation facility.
COUNTRY IMPACT
The selection advances another utility-scale renewable-energy project through Namibia’s procurement pipeline.
If the final award and power purchase agreement are completed, the project would add new solar-generating capacity to the national electricity system and create requirements for project finance, engineering, construction, electrical equipment, grid integration and ongoing plant operations.
The involvement of ANIREP, TotalEnergies and Sinco combines Namibian renewable-energy participation with international energy-sector capability.
The project’s eventual contribution remains dependent on completion of the outstanding procurement and contractual stages, followed by financing, construction and commissioning.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
Okatope is not located at SUNGATE, and the project does not create a direct requirement for land at the development.
Its relevance lies in the continued expansion and diversification of Namibia’s electricity infrastructure.
SUNGATE is a 408-hectare master-planned mixed-use development adjacent to Hosea Kutako International Airport and positioned at the convergence of air, road and rail. Future commercial, logistics, hospitality and light-industrial activity at developments of this scale depends on adequate and progressively expanding electricity infrastructure.
The Okatope selection is therefore an indirect enabling-infrastructure signal. It demonstrates continued movement in Namibia’s renewable-generation pipeline without implying that the project’s electricity will be dedicated to SUNGATE or that its developers intend to locate there.
SOURCE
Alpha Namibia Industries Renewable Power Limited / Namibia Securities Exchange, “ANIREP-Led JV Selected for Award of Okatope 20 MWac Solar PV Project,” 23 September 2026.
Navachab Gold Deliveries Move Namibia’s Reserve Programme Into Execution
Navachab has delivered more than 300 kilograms of locally produced gold to the Bank of Namibia, providing measurable evidence that the country’s domestic gold-reserve programme has moved from agreement into execution.
SOURCE SIGNAL
QKR Namibia Navachab Gold Mine has delivered more than 300 kilograms of gold to the Bank of Namibia since the parties signed a gold-purchase agreement in March 2026.
Navachab Managing Director George Botsiwe told Namibia Mining & Energy that deliveries are expected to continue during the remainder of 2026, with the Bank of Namibia targeting approximately 600 kilograms under the current phase of the programme.
The agreement forms part of the central bank’s plan to increase gold holdings to approximately 3% of Namibia’s net foreign-exchange reserves. The new signal is execution rather than policy intent: more than 300 kilograms has now been delivered. The reported 600-kilogram year-end level remains a target.
COUNTRY IMPACT
Buying locally produced gold for official reserves connects part of Namibia’s mineral output directly to the country’s reserve-management system. It can diversify the composition of foreign reserves while allowing domestic currency to be used for the initial purchase from a Namibian producer.
The programme also reveals a value-chain constraint: Namibia lacks refining capacity capable of upgrading mine output to the purity required for reserve assets. Any expansion beyond the initial phase will depend on the Bank of Namibia’s review, market conditions, governance requirements and arrangements with additional producers.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
Navachab Gold Mine is not located at SUNGATE, and the gold-purchase programme creates no direct requirement for land at the development.
Its relevance lies in the broader service economy created when Namibia converts mineral production into deeper domestic financial and value-chain activity. This can require financial services, security, specialist logistics and international connectivity.
SUNGATE is a 408-hectare master-planned mixed-use development adjacent to Hosea Kutako International Airport and positioned within the convergence of air, road and rail. The deliveries are an indirect institutional-growth signal and do not indicate that Navachab, the Bank of Namibia or a refining partner intends to locate at SUNGATE.
SOURCE
Namibia Mining & Energy, “Navachab delivers over 300kg of gold to BoN, targets 600kg by year-end,” 21 September 2026.
Klein Aub Funding Moves Copper-Mine Acquisition Toward Execution
Unicorn Mineral Resources has fully drawn a £1.25 million loan facility to progress its proposed acquisition of the Klein Aub Copper Mine and fund initial technical, operational and development work in Namibia.
SOURCE SIGNAL
Unicorn Mineral Resources Plc has fully drawn a £1.25 million unsecured loan facility intended to progress its proposed acquisition of the Klein Aub Copper Mine and support initial development activities in Namibia.
The funding is intended to advance transaction completion, establish an operational presence in Namibia and support technical, metallurgical and mine-planning work. It is provided by Electro Automation (Group) Limited, a company controlled by Unicorn chairman Paddy Doherty.
The acquisition has not yet been reported as completed, and Klein Aub is not an operating mine. The current milestone is fully drawn funding for acquisition and preparatory work, not financial close for a complete mine development, construction approval or commercial production.
COUNTRY IMPACT
Klein Aub is a historical Namibian copper-mining area. A funded acquisition and renewed technical assessment create a pathway through which an inactive mineral asset could return to development consideration.
If the acquisition is completed and technical work supports a viable operation, development could create requirements for engineering, equipment, contractors, transport and recurring supply-chain support. Those outcomes still depend on transaction completion, evaluation, permitting, further financing and a commercially viable mine plan.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
Klein Aub is not located at SUNGATE, and Unicorn has not announced an operating connection with the development.
Its relevance lies in the wider industrial ecosystem that can develop when historical mining assets attract fresh capital. Such activity can generate demand for specialist personnel, equipment, freight, accommodation and supply-chain coordination.
SUNGATE is a 408-hectare master-planned mixed-use development adjacent to Hosea Kutako International Airport and positioned at the convergence of air, road and rail. Klein Aub is an early-stage industrial signal rather than evidence of direct demand; any wider logistics or service effect depends on the project progressing through acquisition, validation and mine development.
SOURCE
Unicorn Mineral Resources Plc, “£1.25 Million Loan Facility Fully Drawn,” regulatory announcement, 17 September 2026.
Dâures Green Fertiliser Project Secures Development Funding
A signed development-funding agreement provides up to US$3.6 million to advance Namibia’s Dâures Green Fertiliser Project through engineering, permitting, market development and preparation for financial close.
SOURCE SIGNAL
SDG Namibia One and Enersense Energy Namibia have signed a Development Funding Agreement to advance the Dâures Green Fertiliser Project in Namibia’s Erongo Region.
Under the agreement, SDG Namibia One will provide up to US$3.6 million toward a total development budget of up to US$7.07 million and will act as co-developer alongside Enersense Energy Namibia.
The funding will support front-end engineering design, market development, permitting, environmental and social studies and work to convert market interest into bankable offtake arrangements.
The proposed commercial-scale project is designed to use 60 MW of solar photovoltaic capacity, 10 MW of wind generation and 65 MWh of battery storage to power a 40 MW electrolysis facility. It targets annual production of up to 20,000 tonnes of green ammonia and up to 80,000 tonnes of ammonium sulphate fertiliser.
Financial close is targeted for the second quarter of 2028, with commercial operations targeted for the first quarter of 2030. The agreement therefore represents funded project development, not financial close, construction approval or an operating commercial facility.
COUNTRY IMPACT
The agreement moves the Dâures commercial-scale concept into a funded development phase, providing capital for the technical, environmental, regulatory and commercial work required before a final investment decision can be considered.
For Namibia, the project connects renewable-energy development with domestic manufacturing and agricultural supply chains. Producing fertiliser locally could reduce dependence on imported agricultural inputs, retain more value from Namibia’s renewable resources and strengthen regional supply resilience.
The project also illustrates how blended development finance can be used to reduce early-stage risk in first-of-a-kind industrial projects and prepare them for larger private investment.
These potential benefits remain dependent on successful engineering and permitting, credible offtake arrangements, financial close and subsequent construction. The signed agreement advances those preparatory requirements but does not guarantee that the proposed commercial facility will reach operation.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
The Dâures project is not located at SUNGATE and the funding agreement creates no direct requirement for land at the development.
Its relevance lies in the wider commercial and service economy created as Namibian industrial projects progress from concept toward bankability. Project development can require investors, engineers, environmental specialists, professional advisers, equipment suppliers and logistics providers to operate across Namibia and move through Windhoek and the country’s international transport network.
SUNGATE is a 408-hectare master-planned mixed-use development adjacent to Hosea Kutako International Airport, Namibia’s principal international aviation gateway, and positioned within the convergence of air, road and rail.
For SUNGATE, the Dâures agreement is therefore an indirect industrial-growth signal. It adds evidence that Namibia is developing renewable-energy value chains that may support future demand for commercial services, business travel, logistics coordination, accommodation and supporting infrastructure, without indicating that the project or its partners intend to locate at SUNGATE.
SOURCE
Renewable Energy Magazine, “SDG Namibia One and Enersense Energy Namibia sign development funding agreement for Dâures Green Fertiliser Project,” 10 September 2026.
Rössing Stake Attracts 35 Expressions of Investor Interest
IDC’s planned disposal of its minority stake in Rössing Uranium has attracted 35 expressions of interest, providing measurable evidence of investor appetite for exposure to an established Namibian mining asset.
SOURCE SIGNAL
The Industrial Development Corporation’s planned disposal of its approximately 10.2% interest in Rössing Uranium has attracted 35 expressions of interest.
IDC opened the disposal process in January 2026, with prospective investors invited to submit expressions of interest. According to IDC information reported by The Brief, the disposal process remains ongoing.
The 35 expressions of interest should not be interpreted as completed bids or transactions. They provide evidence of prospective investor appetite for a minority interest in an established Namibian uranium operation, while the eventual buyer, valuation and completion remain unresolved.
COUNTRY IMPACT
The level of interest provides a measurable market signal around Namibia’s investment attractiveness in the uranium sector.
Unlike an exploration-stage project, Rössing is an established operating mine. Investor interest in an existing productive Namibian asset therefore provides a different form of evidence from new-project announcements: it shows prospective investors evaluating direct ownership exposure to an established operation.
The disposal process itself remains incomplete, and the number of expressions of interest does not guarantee a transaction or determine its ultimate value.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
Rössing Uranium is not located at Sungate and the disposal process does not create a direct requirement for land at the development.
Its relevance lies in the wider investment and business ecosystem created when international and regional investors pursue exposure to productive Namibian assets.
Sungate is positioned adjacent to Hosea Kutako International Airport and within the wider Windhoek commercial environment through which investors, advisers, technical specialists, suppliers and corporate personnel move.
For Sungate, strong investor interest in an established Namibian industrial asset reinforces the broader evidence that Namibia is attracting capital into sectors that generate professional services, business travel, logistics, accommodation and supporting commercial activity.
SOURCE
The Brief, “IDC’s Rössing stake attracts 35 potential buyers,” 7 September 2026, reporting information from IDC’s annual financial results.
Walvis Bay Customs Pilot Targets More Predictable Cargo Clearance
NamRA will pilot a mandatory Financial Security Framework at Walvis Bay, changing how importers, exporters and logistics operators secure cargo release while customs verification continues.
SOURCE SIGNAL
The Namibia Revenue Agency is introducing a mandatory pilot of its Financial Security Framework at the Walvis Bay customs office, creating a new operating requirement for businesses moving goods through Namibia’s principal maritime gateway.
NAMPA reported on 5 September 2026 that the pilot will run from 1 December 2026 to 28 February 2027 and will apply to exporters, importers, customs clearing agents, freight forwarders and other stakeholders using the customs clearance system at Walvis Bay.
Under the framework, affected traders will be required to provide financial security in the form of cash, a bond or a guarantee before goods are released.
The framework is intended to allow customs verification and post-clearance processes to continue while providing security for potential duties, taxes or other obligations.
NamRA has positioned the pilot as part of efforts to improve efficiency, predictability, revenue protection and trade facilitation within the customs environment.
COUNTRY IMPACT
Customs processes directly influence the cost, speed and predictability of trade.
For importers, exporters and logistics operators, delays in cargo release can affect working capital, inventory planning, transport schedules and supply-chain reliability.
A financial-security framework can create a mechanism for cargo to move while customs verification continues, potentially improving predictability for compliant traders. At the same time, the requirement to lodge security introduces additional financial and compliance obligations that businesses will need to manage.
The pilot should therefore be viewed as an operational reform rather than simply a positive or negative development. Its effectiveness will depend on implementation, accessibility of acceptable security instruments and the experience of traders during the pilot period.
Because Walvis Bay is Namibia’s principal maritime gateway, changes to customs clearance processes can influence the wider freight system connecting the port with Windhoek and regional markets.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
The Financial Security Framework pilot is being implemented at Walvis Bay and does not establish any customs function at Sungate.
Its relevance lies in the wider logistics system to which Sungate is connected.
Walvis Bay feeds cargo into Namibia’s inland road and rail network, while Sungate is positioned adjacent to Hosea Kutako International Airport and at the convergence of air, road and rail within the wider Windhoek transport environment.
Changes that improve or reshape the predictability of cargo clearance at the port can affect the operating environment for freight forwarders, distributors, importers, exporters, warehousing businesses and other logistics operators throughout the inland supply chain.
For Sungate, that matters because the development’s long-term logistics and industrial potential depends not only on physical infrastructure but also on the efficiency of the trade systems that move goods through Namibia.
This pilot is therefore a useful Growth Intelligence signal about the institutional infrastructure behind the country’s gateway economy, while also highlighting the working-capital and compliance requirements that logistics businesses must manage.
SOURCE
NAMPA, “NamRA to pilot financial security framework at Walvis Bay,” 5 September 2026.
TotalEnergies Takes Operatorship of Namibia’s Mopane Discovery
TotalEnergies has completed its entry as operator of the PEL83 licence containing the Mopane discovery, converting an announced partnership into a completed transaction and enabling the next appraisal phase.
SOURCE SIGNAL
TotalEnergies has completed the transaction agreed with Galp in December 2025 through which it acquired a 40% operated interest in Petroleum Exploration Licence 83, containing the Mopane discovery offshore Namibia.
TotalEnergies now holds 40% and operates PEL83, alongside Galp with 40%, NAMCOR with 10% and Custos with 10%. Galp also acquired a 10% interest in PEL56, containing the Venus discovery, and a 9.39% interest in PEL91.
The closing is materially different from the earlier transaction announcement because ownership and operatorship have now transferred. TotalEnergies says it intends to begin a three-well Mopane appraisal campaign and is targeting a final investment decision in 2028.
The appraisal programme and 2028 decision remain forward-looking. The transaction does not constitute a final investment decision, construction commitment or production approval for Mopane.
COUNTRY IMPACT
The completed transaction places operatorship of the Mopane and Venus discoveries with TotalEnergies and aligns the interests of TotalEnergies and Galp across three major Namibian offshore licences.
For Namibia, this creates a more consolidated operating structure for the next technical and commercial phases of two significant discoveries. It also activates the arrangements needed for further appraisal work at Mopane, including Galp’s funding carry for part of the first development investment.
If appraisal supports development and the required commercial, regulatory and investment decisions are taken, the projects could generate substantial demand for engineering, logistics, marine services, procurement, professional services, training and specialist personnel.
Those outcomes are not yet committed. The current signal is transaction completion and transfer of operatorship, not first oil or an approved development project.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
Mopane is an offshore petroleum discovery and has no direct operating connection to Sungate.
Its relevance lies in the wider business and service economy that can develop as international energy projects move from discovery through appraisal and, if approved, into development. These phases bring investors, technical specialists, professional advisers, suppliers and contractors into Namibia.
Windhoek remains Namibia’s principal commercial and administrative centre, while Hosea Kutako International Airport is the country’s main international aviation gateway. Sungate is a 408-hectare master-planned mixed-use development adjacent to HKIA and positioned within Namibia’s air, road and rail environment.
For Sungate, the transaction therefore strengthens a measured long-term demand signal for commercial space, business travel, accommodation, logistics coordination and supporting services. It does not indicate that TotalEnergies, Galp or any project contractor intends to locate at Sungate.
SOURCE
TotalEnergies, “Namibia: TotalEnergies Completes its entry as Operator into PEL83 license, holding the giant Mopane discovery,” 3 September 2026.
Hope & Gorob Moves Into Active Mining as First Concentrate Nears
Hope & Gorob has moved into active mining and advanced plant commissioning, with stockpiled ore, a full mining and haulage fleet on site and first processing targeted during September 2026.
SOURCE SIGNAL
Bezant Resources has moved its Hope & Gorob copper-gold project in Namibia into active mining and advanced plant commissioning, with first run-of-mine ore processing targeted during September 2026 subject to completion of the remaining commissioning activities.
In a regulated market announcement dated 3 September 2026, Bezant said ore from the first two production blasts had already been stockpiled and that mine development was progressing in line with the current project schedule.
The company reported that the full Unitrans mining and haulage fleet was on site, while major civil and structural work at the Tsoaxaub Metals Processing Plant had been completed and certified.
Mechanical completion of the processing plant is scheduled during September, with electrical drives and instrumentation substantially advanced and first-fill reagents already delivered.
The current milestone is therefore materially different from an exploration or financing announcement: Hope & Gorob is moving from mine development into the first stages of operating production.
COUNTRY IMPACT
The transition from development activity to active mining changes the economic significance of a mineral project.
Operating mines create recurring requirements for mining contractors, haulage, processing, maintenance, equipment, technical services, consumables, employees and supporting logistics rather than one-off construction demand alone.
At Hope & Gorob, the presence of an operating mining and haulage fleet, stockpiled ore and an advanced processing plant demonstrates that physical project execution has reached a stage where production systems are beginning to function together.
First concentrate has not yet been produced and should not be presented as a completed milestone. Bezant has stated that first run-of-mine ore processing remains subject to completion of the remaining commissioning work.
Nevertheless, the project now provides tangible evidence of another Namibian mining development moving toward recurring industrial production and export activity.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
Hope & Gorob is not located at Sungate and does not create a direct operating requirement at the development.
Its relevance lies in the wider supplier, logistics and service economy created when a mining project moves from development into operation.
Mining and processing activity generates demand for freight, equipment, technical specialists, contractors, professional services, business travel and ongoing supply-chain coordination. These activities extend beyond the mine site itself.
Sungate is a 408-hectare mixed-use development adjacent to Hosea Kutako International Airport and positioned at the convergence of air, road and rail.
As Namibia adds operating mines and processing activity, the movement of suppliers, specialists, equipment and business services through Windhoek and the national transport network strengthens the broader commercial and logistics environment in which Sungate is positioned.
For Sungate, the Hope & Gorob milestone is therefore an operating-economy signal: another Namibian mineral project is moving from development expenditure toward recurring mining, haulage, processing and supply-chain activity.
SOURCE
Bezant Resources Plc, “Hope & Gorob Copper-Gold Project Update,” regulated market announcement, 3 September 2026.
Namibia Digitises Embedded-Generation Approvals
Namibia has launched a national digital platform for embedded-generation applications, standardising grid-connection submissions and targeting a 30-day turnaround for systems below one megawatt.
SOURCE SIGNAL
The Electricity Control Board has launched a national embedded-generation platform that allows renewable-energy developers, businesses, households and institutions to submit applications digitally while enabling electricity distributors to assess proposed grid connections online.
The system introduces standardised application requirements and a common digital process across distributors. For embedded-generation systems below one megawatt, the ECB is targeting a 30-day turnaround and has committed to reviewing platform performance quarterly and publishing processing times.
The platform will also create a central database of embedded-generation installations, giving the regulator and distributors better information on the location and capacity of private generation connected to distribution networks.
The launch does not remove technical or regulatory requirements. Distributors must still determine whether installations comply with applicable standards and whether the relevant network has sufficient capacity.
COUNTRY IMPACT
Distributed solar and other embedded-generation projects depend not only on equipment and finance, but also on a predictable route to grid approval.
A standardised national process can reduce inconsistent requirements, improve visibility over application status and give investors a clearer basis for planning smaller generation projects.
The central database can also improve electricity-network planning by helping utilities identify where private generation is growing and where additional grid capacity or technical controls may be required.
If the 30-day target is achieved consistently, the platform could lower administrative friction for businesses and institutions investing in self-generation while supporting a more transparent and better-managed transition towards distributed renewable energy.
Its effectiveness will depend on implementation, distributor capacity, network constraints and the quarterly evidence published by the ECB. The target should therefore not be treated as a guaranteed approval period for every project.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
Sungate is a 408-hectare master-planned mixed-use development adjacent to Hosea Kutako International Airport and positioned at the convergence of air, road and rail.
Over time, commercial, logistics, light-industrial, hospitality and supporting-service users within a development of this scale may evaluate embedded generation as part of their energy-cost, resilience and sustainability planning.
A clearer national application system can improve the wider operating environment in which those investment decisions are assessed. It may help future developers and businesses understand the approval path for qualifying systems, subject to network capacity, technical compliance and the decisions of the relevant authorities.
The new platform does not approve any project at Sungate and does not guarantee that embedded generation will be feasible on a particular erf. Its relevance is structural: Namibia is making the regulatory process for decentralised energy investment more standardised, transparent and measurable.
SOURCE
Mining and Energy Namibia, “Namibia moves to cut approval uncertainty for embedded energy projects,” 2 September 2026.
ReconAfrica Upsizes Kavango West Testing Finance to C$19 Million
ReconAfrica has upsized a bought-deal financing to C$19 million to fund a horizontal sidetrack and production-testing programme at Kavango West 1X, adding fresh committed capital to Namibia's onshore petroleum exploration programme.
SOURCE SIGNAL
ReconAfrica has entered into an amended bought-deal financing agreement for 26.028 million units at C$0.73 per unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately C$19.0 million. Closing remains subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.
The offering was increased from C$15 million. ReconAfrica said net proceeds would fund an open-hole horizontal sidetrack and production-testing programme at Kavango West 1X, targeting the Huttenberg formation and potentially the Elandshoek formation.
COUNTRY IMPACT
The upsized financing adds fresh private capital to Namibia's onshore petroleum exploration programme and supports the next defined technical testing phase at Kavango West.
If the programme advances successfully, further appraisal activity could increase demand for specialist drilling and engineering services, transport, equipment, accommodation and professional support within Namibia.
The financing does not establish commercial production or prove that the discovery is economically viable. It is evidence that capital is being committed to a defined next phase of technical evaluation.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
Kavango West is geographically distant from Sungate and ReconAfrica has not announced any activity at the development.
Its relevance lies in the service economy created as international energy companies deploy capital, specialist personnel and technical equipment into Namibia. Windhoek is the country's principal commercial centre, while HKIA is its main international aviation gateway.
Sungate is a 408-hectare master-planned mixed-use development adjacent to HKIA and positioned within Namibia's air, road and rail environment. Continued energy exploration can contribute to the wider demand environment for business travel, accommodation, professional services and logistics coordination around the capital and airport corridor.
The signal is indirect and longer term: it does not imply that ReconAfrica, its contractors or suppliers intend to locate at Sungate.
SOURCE
ReconAfrica, “ReconAfrica Announces Upsize of Bought-Deal Public Offering to C$19 Million to Conduct Horizontal Sidetrack and Production Testing Program at the Kavango West 1X of the Huttenberg Formation,” 2 September 2026.
PEL 93 Advances Toward Exploration Drilling in Namibia's Owambo Basin
The PEL 93 joint venture has applied to enter its second renewal exploration period with a proposed programme that includes drilling at least one exploration well and a US$10 million minimum expenditure commitment.
SOURCE SIGNAL
The PEL 93 joint venture has formally applied to enter its second two-year renewal exploration period from 3 October 2026, with a proposed work programme that includes preparation for and drilling of at least one exploration well.
88 Energy, which holds a 20% non-operated working interest in PEL 93, said approximately 6,000 line-kilometres of airborne geophysical data have been integrated, confirming Prospect 9 as the joint venture's highest-ranked drilling opportunity.
The joint venture has proposed a minimum expenditure commitment of US$10 million for the renewal period. 88 Energy estimates its share, including associated carry obligations, at approximately US$2.67 million.
The renewal application and work programme remain subject to approval by the Namibian authorities. The current signal is progression toward drilling, not an approved or completed well.
COUNTRY IMPACT
PEL 93 broadens Namibia's onshore petroleum exploration pipeline beyond a single operator or licence and creates another potential source of future drilling, technical-service and supply-chain activity.
If approved and drilled, the programme could generate expenditure across rig services, environmental work, engineering, transport, logistics and specialist professional services. Execution still depends on regulatory approval, permitting and subsequent operational decisions.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
PEL 93 is located in Namibia's Owambo Basin and has no direct operating connection to Sungate.
As more exploration programmes progress toward drilling, Namibia's supplier and service economy can deepen across technical services, transport, accommodation, business travel, procurement and logistics coordination.
Windhoek is Namibia's principal commercial and administrative centre, while HKIA is the country's main international aviation gateway. Sungate is a 408-hectare master-planned mixed-use development adjacent to HKIA and positioned at the convergence of air, road and rail.
A broader pipeline of energy-sector activity therefore strengthens the longer-term environment for commercial, accommodation, logistics and supporting-service demand. It does not indicate that 88 Energy, Monitor Exploration or any project contractor intends to locate at Sungate.
SOURCE
88 Energy Limited, “PEL 93 Advances to Next Exploration Phase as Positive Regional Results Support Basin Potential,” RNS regulatory announcement, 1 September 2026.
ICTSI Moves to Acquire Southern African Logistics Group with Namibian Operations
Global terminal operator ICTSI has signed an agreement to acquire TLG, an integrated port and cargo-handling group with operations in Namibia, Mozambique and South Africa, adding a significant international strategic-investor signal to Namibia’s logistics sector.
SOURCE SIGNAL
International Container Terminal Services Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of TLG Acquisition Holdings from its existing shareholders.
ICTSI’s regulatory disclosure describes TLG as an integrated port and cargo-handling services provider with operations across Namibia, Mozambique and South Africa, handling a diversified range of bulk commodities and agricultural products.
Completion remains subject to conditions precedent, including applicable regulatory approvals. The announcement therefore represents a signed acquisition agreement rather than a completed transaction.
COUNTRY IMPACT
The proposed transaction brings a major international terminal and port operator into a Southern African logistics platform with established Namibian operations.
This is significant because it adds a strategic corporate-investment signal to the infrastructure and freight developments already taking place in Namibia. International ownership and operational expertise can strengthen capital availability, network integration, commercial relationships and the ability of logistics businesses to connect Namibian cargo flows with wider regional and global supply chains.
The acquisition is not yet complete and its future operational implications for Namibia will depend on regulatory approval and ICTSI’s post-acquisition strategy.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
TLG’s Namibian operations are centred on the wider logistics system linked to Walvis Bay and regional freight movements. ICTSI has not announced any operation or investment at Sungate.
The relevance lies in the increasing strategic value being placed on Namibia’s logistics network by sophisticated international operators.
Sungate is a 408-hectare master-planned mixed-use development adjacent to Hosea Kutako International Airport and positioned at the convergence of air, road and rail. Its long-term logistics proposition is linked to the wider freight system connecting Walvis Bay, Windhoek and regional markets.
For Sungate, the proposed ICTSI acquisition therefore adds another layer of evidence that Namibia’s logistics sector is attracting international capital and strategic operators, strengthening the broader environment for warehousing, distribution, freight services, light industry and supporting commercial activity over time.
SOURCE
International Container Terminal Services Inc., “ICTSI signs an agreement to acquire 100% ownership of TLG Acquisition Holdings (RF) Proprietary Limited,” regulatory disclosure, 28 August 2026.
Namibia’s Instant Payment System Moves Toward National Rollout
Namibia’s national instant-payment system is moving closer to broad public use, with the Bank of Namibia targeting mobile-phone-based instant payments by around June 2027.
SOURCE SIGNAL
Namibia’s national instant-payment programme is moving closer to broad public implementation, with the Bank of Namibia indicating that mobile-phone-based instant payments are expected to become widely available by around June 2027.
The Namibian reported on 27 August 2026 that Bank of Namibia governor Ebson Uanguta said the system is intended to expand financial inclusion and make affordable digital payments more accessible across the economy.
Uanguta also highlighted the value of digital transaction records for informal and small businesses, which can create a clearer history of business activity than cash-only transactions.
The programme itself is not new. Namibia’s Instant Payment Project was launched in 2024 and progressed through live pilot testing during 2026, including successful instant transactions between participating institutions.
The current signal is therefore implementation progress: the country is moving from system development and testing towards broader national use.
COUNTRY IMPACT
Payments infrastructure is a basic part of a modern commercial economy.
Fast, low-cost and interoperable payments can reduce friction for consumers and businesses while making it easier for smaller enterprises to participate in formal economic activity.
Digital transaction histories can also improve visibility of income and turnover for businesses that have traditionally operated largely in cash, potentially supporting access to financial services over time.
The system should not be described as a new national currency. It is an instant-payment infrastructure designed to move existing money more efficiently between users and financial institutions.
If implementation proceeds as planned, the programme could strengthen retail activity, SME participation, financial inclusion and the efficiency of day-to-day commercial transactions across Namibia.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
Sungate’s long-term development proposition includes a broad range of commercial, retail, hospitality, service and business uses.
These activities depend on an efficient operating environment in which customers, employees and businesses can transact reliably and at low cost.
A national instant-payment system therefore has indirect but practical relevance to the commercial ecosystem in which Sungate will develop.
It can support smaller businesses, retailers, service providers and informal enterprises as they become part of a more digitally connected economy, while also improving the ease with which visitors and consumers transact.
For Sungate, the importance is not the payment technology itself. It is another piece of national commercial infrastructure that can make Namibia’s broader business environment more efficient and inclusive.
SOURCE
The Namibian, “Central bank to introduce digital money next year,” 27 August 2026.
Langer Heinrich Completes Ramp-Up as Uranium Production Strengthens
Langer Heinrich produced 4.82 million pounds — approximately 2,186 tonnes — of uranium oxide in FY2026 as the mine completed its ramp-up, providing hard evidence of sustained operating activity in Namibia’s uranium sector.
SOURCE SIGNAL
Paladin Energy’s Langer Heinrich Mine produced 4.82 million pounds — approximately 2,186 tonnes — of uranium oxide during FY2026 as the operation successfully completed its production ramp-up.
Paladin Energy’s FY2026 results, released on 27 August 2026, reported production at the upper end of the company’s revised annual guidance.
The group sold 4.35 million pounds of uranium during the year at an average realised price of US$70 per pound, contributing to sales revenue of US$304.3 million.
Langer Heinrich had already recommenced commercial production following its restart. The significance of the FY2026 result is therefore not the beginning of production, but the successful completion of the ramp-up and the establishment of substantially higher operating output.
This provides a different economic signal from a proposed mine or future investment decision: Langer Heinrich is an operating Namibian industrial asset producing uranium for international markets.
COUNTRY IMPACT
Operating mines create recurring economic activity that extends well beyond the value of the mineral produced.
Production requires ongoing procurement, maintenance, transport, equipment, technical services, contractors, professional support and skilled employees throughout the operating life of a mine.
The domestic component of that activity is significant. The Chamber of Mines of Namibia has reported that approximately 88% of Langer Heinrich’s procurement expenditure is directed to Namibian suppliers, while the mine supports approximately 1,300 employees and contractors and maintains a workforce that is approximately 98% Namibian.
That provides tangible evidence of how operating mining assets can transmit economic activity into domestic businesses, employment and supply chains.
The completion of Langer Heinrich’s ramp-up therefore matters beyond uranium production itself. It demonstrates that Namibia’s renewed uranium sector is generating sustained industrial output together with recurring requirements for the businesses and services supporting that production.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
Langer Heinrich is located in the Erongo Region and has no direct operating connection to Sungate.
Its relevance lies in the wider commercial, logistics and service ecosystem created by a growing operating mining economy.
A mine directing substantial procurement expenditure to Namibian suppliers creates recurring requirements across equipment, transport, logistics, engineering, maintenance, professional services, business travel and other supporting activities.
Windhoek remains Namibia’s principal commercial and administrative centre, while Hosea Kutako International Airport is the country’s primary international gateway for many investors, technical specialists, suppliers and business travellers.
Sungate is a 408-hectare mixed-use development adjacent to Hosea Kutako International Airport and positioned at the convergence of air, road and rail.
As Namibia’s mining economy expands from prospective projects into sustained operating production, the resulting supplier activity, business movement and logistics requirements strengthen the broader demand environment for commercial, industrial, accommodation and supporting-service uses.
For Sungate, Langer Heinrich therefore provides an important operating-economy signal: Namibia’s mining growth is not confined to future projects and investment announcements. It is already generating recurring production, procurement and supply-chain activity within the domestic economy.
SOURCE
Paladin Energy Limited, “FY2026 Financial Results,” 27 August 2026.
Namibia’s Capital Market Moves Further Into Digital Settlement
Bank Windhoek has become Namibia’s first bank and corporate issuer to dematerialise an NSX-listed corporate bond, marking a practical step in the modernisation of the country’s capital-market infrastructure.
SOURCE SIGNAL
Bank Windhoek has become the first bank and corporate bond issuer in Namibia to convert an NSX-listed corporate bond from a paper-based security into an electronic ownership record.
The Brief reported on 26 August 2026 that the bank successfully dematerialised its N$250.5 million BWJh28L Sustainability-Linked Bond through Namibia’s Central Securities Depository.
The CSD was launched in December 2025 by the Namibia Securities Exchange in partnership with the Bank of Namibia and under the oversight of NAMFISA as part of the country’s capital-market modernisation programme.
Bank Windhoek’s conversion was completed on 21 August 2026, with investor asset registers updated and verified on the same day.
The milestone represents the first practical corporate-bond implementation of the CSD and moves Namibia’s listed debt market further from paper-based ownership and settlement towards a digitally enabled market infrastructure.
COUNTRY IMPACT
Efficient capital markets depend on reliable systems for recording ownership, settling trades and paying investors.
Electronic securities can improve settlement speed, transparency and security while reducing risks associated with physical certificates, including loss, theft, forgery and administrative delay.
A functioning Central Securities Depository also creates infrastructure that can support broader dematerialisation of bonds, treasury bills, negotiable certificates of deposit and equities over time.
For Namibia, the importance is therefore not limited to one Bank Windhoek bond. The transaction demonstrates that a national financial-market infrastructure reform has moved from institutional design into practical use.
That strengthens the operating environment for investors and issuers and supports the development of a deeper, more efficient and more accessible domestic capital market.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
The dematerialisation of an NSX-listed bond has no direct property or operational connection to Sungate.
Its relevance lies in the investment environment within which large development projects and long-term commercial commitments are evaluated and financed.
Sungate is a 408-hectare mixed-use development intended to attract investors, developers, operators and businesses over a long development horizon.
A more efficient, transparent and digitally enabled capital market strengthens Namibia’s broader institutional platform for investment and can improve the mechanisms through which capital is raised, held and transferred within the economy.
For Sungate, this is therefore a structural rather than site-specific signal: Namibia is continuing to modernise the financial infrastructure that supports investment activity across the country.
SOURCE
The Brief, “Bank Windhoek becomes first corporate issuer to dematerialise NSX-listed bond,” 26 August 2026.
Lüderitz Hotel Redevelopment Tracks New Business Demand
The redeveloped Kapps a Kubata Loft Hotel is targeting a first-quarter 2027 opening as Lüderitz prepares for rising demand linked to tourism, oil and gas, logistics and other emerging industries.
SOURCE SIGNAL
A major hospitality redevelopment in Lüderitz is targeting a first-quarter 2027 opening as the town prepares for increased demand from tourism, business travel and emerging industries.
The Brief reported on 25 August 2026 that Nokubiko Investment is redeveloping the historic Kapps Hotel into the Kapps a Kubata Loft Hotel.
The completed property is expected to include 33 rooms together with conference and office facilities, while retaining key heritage elements of the original hotel, which dates back to 1907.
The investor said the project is intended to position Lüderitz to capture increased demand from business travellers, tourists and diplomatic visitors.
Nokubiko also linked its initial interest in Namibia to the country’s emerging oil and gas industry, while identifying tourism and the wider economic opportunity as part of the investment case.
COUNTRY IMPACT
The redevelopment provides evidence of how new industrial and investment activity can create second-order demand in other parts of the economy.
Oil and gas exploration, logistics activity and other emerging industries do not only require technical and industrial infrastructure. They also bring executives, contractors, specialists, investors and public-sector stakeholders who need accommodation, meeting space, offices, restaurants and supporting services.
The addition of conference and office facilities alongside hotel rooms is therefore significant because it reflects demand that extends beyond conventional leisure tourism.
The project remains under redevelopment and the Q1 2027 opening is a target rather than a completed milestone.
Nevertheless, the investment is a useful signal that private capital is positioning ahead of expected growth in Lüderitz’s combined tourism, business and industrial economy.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
The Kapps a Kubata project is located in Lüderitz and has no direct connection to Sungate.
Its relevance lies in the economic mechanism it demonstrates.
When new industries attract investment, technical expertise and business activity into a region, demand can spread into hospitality, meeting facilities, office space, transport and other supporting commercial uses.
Sungate is positioned adjacent to Hosea Kutako International Airport, the principal international gateway through which many investors, specialists and business travellers enter Namibia.
Its mixed-use structure allows for hospitality, commercial and supporting-service development as demand evolves around the airport corridor and the wider Namibian economy.
For Sungate, the Lüderitz redevelopment provides practical evidence that emerging industries can translate into second-order property and service demand beyond the industrial project itself.
SOURCE
The Brief, “Nokubiko targets Q1 2027 opening of redeveloped Kapps Hotel in Lüderitz,” 25 August 2026.
HKIA Expands Commercial Services Around the Gateway
New passenger-lounge and foreign-exchange procurements at Hosea Kutako International Airport provide direct evidence of the commercial service economy developing around Namibia’s principal international gateway.
SOURCE SIGNAL
Namibia Airports Company is opening new commercial-service opportunities at Hosea Kutako International Airport as the country’s principal international gateway continues to develop its passenger and supporting-service offering.
On 24 August 2026, NAC published procurement opportunities for the operation and management of a second-tier pay-per-use passenger lounge at HKIA and for the operation and management of foreign-exchange services at the airport.
Individually, these are relatively modest commercial procurements. Together, however, they provide direct evidence of the wider service economy that operates around an international airport.
Passenger lounges and foreign-exchange services sit outside the core function of aircraft movement, but form part of the commercial infrastructure supporting international travellers, business passengers and visitors entering and leaving Namibia.
The procurements therefore reinforce the evolution of HKIA as more than transport infrastructure alone: it is also a platform for hospitality, financial and other passenger-supporting services.
COUNTRY IMPACT
International airports support economic activity through a much wider ecosystem than runways, terminals and airlines.
As passenger and business activity develops, airports create opportunities for hospitality, retail, financial services, food and beverage, transport, car rental, logistics and other commercial functions.
For Namibia, the continued development of these services can improve the experience and functionality of the country’s principal international gateway while creating opportunities for private operators and service businesses.
The two NAC procurements do not represent major infrastructure investment and should not be interpreted as evidence of a sudden increase in passenger demand.
Their significance is cumulative. They demonstrate the continuing commercialisation of airport space and the range of supporting businesses required around international aviation activity.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
This development is directly relevant to the wider airport-economy proposition surrounding Sungate.
Sungate is a 408-hectare mixed-use development adjacent to Hosea Kutako International Airport and positioned within the same gateway environment through which international travellers, businesses and investment enter Namibia.
The NAC procurements are located within HKIA and do not create any direct commercial opportunity at Sungate.
They do, however, illustrate the diversity of services generated around an international gateway. As the airport develops, commercial demand is not limited to aviation itself. It can extend into hospitality, financial services, retail, food and beverage, transport, accommodation and other supporting activities.
Sungate’s mixed-use planning provides the flexibility to accommodate a broad range of commercial and visitor-supporting uses over time, subject to market demand and development requirements.
For Sungate, these relatively small airport procurements therefore provide a useful signal of a larger principle: the economic value of an international airport extends beyond aircraft and passengers into the businesses and services that develop around the gateway.
SOURCE
Namibia Airports Company, “Operation and Management of a Second-Tier Pay-Per-Use Lounge at Hosea Kutako International Airport,” procurement notice posted 24 August 2026. NAC simultaneously published a procurement opportunity for operation and management of foreign-exchange services at HKIA.
Trans-Kalahari Railway Moves Into Procurement
The proposed Trans-Kalahari Railway has moved beyond feasibility towards procurement, advancing a major regional freight corridor linking Botswana with the Port of Walvis Bay.
SOURCE SIGNAL
The proposed Trans-Kalahari Railway has moved beyond feasibility towards procurement, marking another step in the development of a major regional freight corridor between Botswana and Namibia.
Windhoek Observer reported that the feasibility study found the proposed approximately 1,850-kilometre corridor technically feasible, economically justified and capable of generating positive operating returns.
The railway is intended to connect Botswana’s mineral-producing areas with the Port of Walvis Bay, providing an alternative Atlantic trade route for commodities and containerised cargo.
The proposed freight mix includes coal, copper, iron ore, fuel, cement and containers.
The next stage involves procurement preparation, including documentation, procurement processes and engagement with potential private-sector partners. A public-private partnership concession model is envisaged, although final financing and procurement arrangements remain to be determined.
Construction has not yet commenced and there is currently no confirmed construction start date.
COUNTRY IMPACT
The Trans-Kalahari Railway has the potential to materially alter regional freight flows if it progresses from procurement into construction and operation.
For Namibia, the strategic value lies in strengthening the Port of Walvis Bay as an Atlantic gateway for Botswana and other landlocked regional markets while expanding the rail component of the country’s wider logistics network.
A functioning cross-border rail corridor could create additional freight capacity, connect mineral production with international shipping routes and reduce dependence on competing routes through South African ports.
The project also reinforces the relationship between port infrastructure and the inland road and rail systems required to move cargo efficiently through Namibia.
At this stage, however, the railway remains a proposed infrastructure project. The feasibility findings support continued development, but financing, procurement, regulatory approvals and implementation must still be completed before construction can proceed.
The significance of the current milestone is therefore progress rather than completion: the project has advanced another step from long-term regional ambition towards an investable and procurable infrastructure programme.
RELEVANCE TO SUNGATE
The Trans-Kalahari Railway is directly relevant to Sungate because the rail alignment runs immediately alongside the development within the same transport corridor that connects Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek and the wider regional network.
Sungate is a 408-hectare mixed-use development positioned at the convergence of air, road and rail. Hosea Kutako International Airport lies directly adjacent to the development, the Trans-Kalahari road corridor provides strategic road connectivity, and the railway forms part of the same transport geography.
This proximity is reflected in the Sungate master plan, which anticipates a railway siding as part of the development concept, creating the potential for direct rail-related logistics and industrial activity as the development evolves.
The proposed Trans-Kalahari Railway therefore matters to Sungate in a much more immediate way than a distant national infrastructure project. If the regional rail corridor advances into construction and operation, Sungate would sit directly beside a strategic freight route linking inland Southern African markets with Windhoek and the Port of Walvis Bay.
That strengthens the long-term relevance of Sungate for warehousing, distribution, light industry, logistics services and other commercial uses that benefit from multimodal access.
For Sungate, the combination of international air access, strategic road connectivity and direct proximity to rail is a core part of the development proposition. Progress on the Trans-Kalahari Railway therefore reinforces one of the central infrastructure advantages on which Sungate has been planned.
SOURCE
Windhoek Observer, “Trans-Kalahari Railway enters procurement phase,” 24 August 2026.