Emerging sectors fuel NSI’s optimism

The government has made a strategic decision to invest in key industries, including strategic emerging areas of renewable energy, as well as oil and gas.

According to the Namibian Standards Institution (NSI), this investment decision creates an opportunity to expand standardization and conformity assessment services.

Green hydrogen ambitions have been boosted by strategic emerging sectors, with pilot projects expected to start production this year.

President Nangolo Mbumba noted last week that, as a result of tireless efforts, Namibia currently has nine hydrogen projects in two developing hydrogen valleys, with the potential for a third valley to be anchored by abundant iron ore potential.

In this regard, NSI has made clear its commitment to evolve in line with the requirements of evolving industries and their related services.

Among its responsibilities, the NSI is tasked with managing and coordinating the implementation of the National Quality Policy, promoting quality in society, developing, adopting and publishing Namibia Standards (NAMS) in accordance with the requirements of the World Trade Organization, and ensuring accurate traceability of measurements in accordance with international standards through a recognized metrology laboratory.

“NSI will contribute to the development of the Synthetic Fuels Act as a comprehensive regulatory framework to create an enabling environment through legislation for green hydrogen projects and ensure compliance with international green fuel, certification, health and safety and environmental standards,” it reads in part integrated strategic business plan for 2024-2029.

The NSI scheme was launched in the capital on Monday evening. During the event, Minister of Trade and Industrialization Lucia Iipumbu said the chosen strategic direction will enable NSI to lead the process of developing and strengthening the country’s high-quality infrastructure, which will lead to increased exports and contribute to socio-economic development.

“It is my belief that NSI is shaping its role in ensuring the quality, safety and innovation of Namibia’s products and services, thereby contributing to Namibia’s sustainable economic growth and development.

“There have been significant changes in the landscape that needed to be taken into account and addressed at policy level. These include a growing population and economic diversification, greater emphasis on better regulation, market functioning and trade as an enabler of development, and regional and global integration, including the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement,” Iipumbu said.

She continued: “All this means that Namibia’s high-quality infrastructure and its technical regulatory framework must clearly meet international good practice and be accepted by all trading partners.” On the same occasion, NSI celebrated its 15th anniversary and commemorated World Metrology Day, which coincides with the entry into force of the Metrology Act.

Participating in international trade requires that products manufactured in Namibia meet certain global standards of quality, quantity and packaging.

Metrology is the science of measurement and its applications cover all theoretical and practical aspects of measurement.

The Metrology Act aims, among other things, to fill the widening gap in legal units of measurement in Namibian legislation, in particular regarding traceability and measurement equipment related to metrology.

These aspects have a direct impact on consumer protection and conformity assessment.

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