Standard Bank Biomass Fair 2026

Biomass Industry Conference Agenda

Powering Namibia’s Bioeconomy

6 August 2026

Otjozondjupa Regional Council Conference Centre, Otjiwarongo

Note: 15 mins per speaker and 20 mins moderated panel discussion per session, including Q&A.

Moderator: Mr. Ricardo |Goagoseb

Time	Programme
08h30	Opening Session: Arrival and Registration
09h00 – 10h30	Opening Official Opening Session
	Namibia and AU Anthems
	Welcoming remarks Mr. Colin Lindeque – N-BiG Board Chair
	A snapshot into the Biomass Sector – Overview by Namibia Biomass Industry Mr. Progress Kashandula – CEO, N-BiG
	High-level partnership statement by Standard Bank – (Main sponsor) Mr. Erwin Tjipuka – CEO
	Entertainment
	High-level statement and introduction of Keynote Speaker Hon. John Khamuseb – Governor, Otjozondjupa Region
	Keynote speech and official opening Hon. Indileni Daniel – Minister, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT)
10h30 – 10h45	Tea Break and Official Photo
10h45 – 12h00	Session 1 Policy Outlook & Sustainable Resource Management
	Biomass Governance Framework Mr. Johnson Ndokosho – Director of Forestry, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT)
	Regional speaker – FSC in the Namibian Biomass Industry: the bigger picture Mr. Richard Fergusson, Coordinator – FSC Southern Africa
	Practical Remote Sensing for Grass and Bush Biomass Management Mr. Evert Strydom, CEO, Rangeland Consulting and Services
	Environmental and Biodiversity Monitoring Tools Prof. Morgan Hauptfleisch – Research Director, Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF)
	Moderated Q&A Session: Policy Outlook & Sustainable Resource Management
12h00 – 13h20	Session 2 Biomass Industry Updates & Trade Facilitation
	Namibia’s Energy Mix – Investment and skills readiness Ms. Julia Muetudhana – Acting CEO, Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board
	Technical and Vocational Education and Training for the Biomass Sector Mr. Indongo Indongo – Manager Research and Planning, Namibia Training Authority (NTA)
	Standardisation for Namibia’s Biomass Economy Mr. Nelson Tjihozu – Standards Development and Training Officer, Namibian Standards Institution (NSI)
	Analysis of the impacts of economic integration on the competitiveness of Namibia’s wood and charcoal sub-sectors Mr. Salomo Mbai – Director: Agriculture Trade Policy Institute (NUST)
	Moderated Q&A Session: Biomass Industry Updates
13h20 – 14h20	Lunch Break
14h20 – 17h15	Session 3 Bush Value Chains Circular Economy
	3a. Setting the scene for Bioenergy, Technology innovation & Carbon Credit Projects
	Biomass to Electricity, 40 MW NamPower Otjikoto Biomass Project Mr. Sam Iithete – Engineer, Generation Special Projects, Namibian Power Utility (NamPower)
	Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) feasibility study for Namibia Mr. Chireshe Farai – Consultant, Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
	Regional speaker – Latest biomass processing equipment and techniques to process encroacher bush Mr. Willem van der Merwe – Founder and CEO of Africa Biomass Company (South Africa)
	Regional speaker – A model of EV trucks as a biomass logistics solution (regional case study) Mr. Avinash Singh – Sales and Marketing Director, SANY (South Africa)
	Artisan Pro Biochar and its Challenges facing the international marketplace Mr. Michael Degé – CEO: Perivoli Rangeland Institute
	Moderated Q&A Session: Bush Value Chains Circular Economy
16h00 – 16h15	Tea Break
16h15 – 17h15	3b. Innovative Financing Solutions for the Biomass Circular Economy
	Mr. Gerhard Mukuahima – Head of Agri Finance, Standard Bank Namibia
	TBC – Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) – (financing climate-resilient and low-carbon projects)
	Mr. Tshoombe Ndadi – Chairman, Konga Microfinance
	Moderated Q&A Session: Innovative Financing Solutions for the Biomass Circular Economy
17h15 – 17h30	Closing Wrap-up, Closing Remarks by CAoN, and Anthems
18h30 till late	Exclusive Networking Event – Crocodile Ranch Otjiwarongo