Lüderitz lays groundwork for growth
The Lüderitz Town Council awarded contracts worth approximately N$50.9 million to consultants and contractors for capital projects during the 2025/26 financial year.
Of the 13 projects under way, three have been completed, six are at an advanced stage and four are roughly halfway through construction, according to Austin Mubiana, the council's acting chief executive officer.
Speaking at a public update on Wednesday, Mubiana said the largest project was the construction of municipal services in Nautilus Extension 4. The contract, awarded to T Four and Ladenco, is valued at N$20.7 million, with N$1.48 million still outstanding. He said the project was 95% complete.
Another key project is the construction of an additional water command reservoir, for which engineering consulting services worth N$633,000 were awarded to NamWater. "The project is 60% complete. A green hydrogen project is on the way, and oil companies want to set up offices here. This project is a priority because there is a need for asphalt and additional reservoirs," he said.
Aqua Services and Engineering was awarded a N$2.5 million contract to repair mechanical equipment at the town's ageing effluent treatment plant. "The plant is old and no repairs have been done for some years. We waited months for the equipment to arrive from Germany and have to carry out the installations in the treatment plant ourselves," he said. Work is 95% complete.
Land surveying work for Lüderitz's proposed townlands expansion, carried out by G Marwa at a cost of N$2.5 million, has been completed.
Zutari and Omkumoh — trading as Auromk — secured a N$1 million contract to provide engineering consulting services for the rehabilitation of municipal water infrastructure. The project is 50% complete. Mubiana said ageing infrastructure and recurring pipe bursts were contributing to water losses, and highlighted the need to strengthen services as the town expands. The same consultants were also awarded an N$800,000 contract to assess municipal sewer and electrical infrastructure. That project is 98% complete. "The project focused mainly on the sewer and electrical lines and was carried out to determine the strength and capacity of our current infrastructure," he said.
Zutari and Omkumoh also completed a N$389,000 feasibility study for a proposed new wastewater treatment plant. Mubiana said the study was intended to ensure sufficient capacity for future urban expansion. "The study for the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant was completed successfully. With the town boundary expansion plans, there is a need for a new plant because the capacity of the one we have will not be sufficient once the town expands," he said.
Planning for the town's long-term growth is also under way. Stubenrauch Planning Consultancy was appointed at a cost of N$9.25 million to implement an infill and densification strategy for the town. The three-year project, which is 50% complete, will guide future residential, commercial and industrial development.
Areal Trading, Megatech and Delco completed a N$6.7 million contract to supply electrical equipment, including power lines, machinery and specialised tools.
D&P Engineers and Environment Consultants is halfway through an N$800,000 project to upgrade the town's electrical infrastructure. CEMP and Partners was awarded a N$3.89 million contract to upgrade sewer reticulation systems, pump stations and related infrastructure. Mubiana said the project was 95% complete. "There are some areas where sewer water is flowing due to mechanical issues. People place foreign objects into the system, causing blockages. The system itself is also under pressure and sometimes breaks down. We bought new machinery for the pump stations and replaced some of the sewer lines," he said.
Bicon Namibia is also nearing completion of a N$2.93 million contract to provide engineering consulting services for municipal infrastructure in Extension 4, covering electricity, water and sewer services.
Road upgrades are also under way, with Ideal Project Consultants and Enigma Constructions awarded a N$3.95 million contract to improve roads in the town. Mubiana said the project was 70% complete and formed part of annual maintenance programmes funded through the Roads Fund Administration.
He said the projects were intended to improve service delivery and prepare the town for anticipated economic growth and expansion.
