Kelp cultivation project in early stages of commercial-scale operations

NAMPA

2024-11-20

LUDERITZ, 15 NOV (NAMPA)-Kelp Blue Seaweed Specialist Michael Fleischman and Kelp Blue Deputy Operations Manager Iriya Jona. (Photo by: Eba Kandovazu)

LÜDERITZ, 20 NOV (NAMPA) - Kelp Blue, a project in Lüderitz facilitated by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), is progressing well and has reached the early stages of commercial-scale operations.
It grows and harvests kelp to enhance marine biodiversity, capture carbon, and create sustainable raw materials. The project cultivates giant kelp forests in the nutrient-rich waters of the Benguela Current.
“This makes the kelp grow very fast, all year round. Kelp Blue considers it the best place in the world to grow kelp,” NIPDB spokesperson Titus Shivute said during a recent media tour.
According to the company’s founder, Daniel Hooft, Kelp Blue is currently conducting trials to secure product registration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform for a bio-stimulant product intended to be used in agriculture as a safe and organic substitute for fertilisers.
With an investment totaling N.dollars 160 million, Kelp Blue has expanded since its pilot phase in 2021 and now employs 92 staff members, 96 per cent of whom are Namibian, with 48 per cent being women.
Hooft told journalists that six per cent of the total budget is allocated to staff training.
He further explained that Kelp Blue’s planting and harvesting of giant kelp forests off the coast helps to increase marine biodiversity and create sustainable input materials for multiple industries.
Kelp Blue operates under an Environmental Clearance Certificate issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in 2021 and renewed in March 2024. The company also has an aquaculture permit from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources which was issued in February 2022.
(NAMPA)
EB/EK/HP/AS

LUDERITZ, 15 NOV (NAMPA)-Kelp Blue Founder, Daniel Hooft. (Photo by: Eba Kandovazu)

Lüderitz NIPDB investment environment

Environment

Sinimbo launches fruit tree planting campaign

2025-11-12 08:20:45

Sheelongo calls for practical action towards sustainable aviation

2025-11-11 14:08:23

Sinimbo hands over FAO-donated agricultural materials to Kavango West farmers

2025-11-10 16:40:36

SASSCAL donates automated weather stations for improved weather forecast

2025-11-10 16:10:53

NamPol seizes 1 238 kg of illegally caught fish at Zambezi

2025-11-06 15:29:46

Nandi-Ndaitwah reaffirms Namibia’s climate commitments

2025-11-05 16:09:31

Roads Authority introduces new system to enhance road management

2025-11-05 11:44:49

Agriculture Ministry announces water crisis response

2025-11-03 10:35:26

Over 30 houses destroyed in Aranos rainstorm, families displaced

2025-10-30 15:49:27

Zaamwani announces Zambezi locust outbreak

2025-10-30 08:11:11

Swakop Uranium earns NOSA 5-star rating

2025-10-23 13:01:09

Latest NAMPA photos

ONHINDA, 11 November 2025 - The NamPower Foundation on Tuesday handed over a three-classroom block at Titus Ndjaba Combined School, as well as a guardroom and school fence at Oluwaya Combined School in the Epembe constituency of the Ohangwena Region. (Photo by: Max Henrich) NAMPA

NAMPA

Ncamagoro, 11 November 2025 - Kavango West Governor Verna Sinimbo launched a region-wide fruit tree planting campaign and creative industries awareness programme in the Ncamagoro Constituency on Tuesday. (Photo: Contributed)

NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 11 November 2025 - Athletes representing the Namibia Deaf Sport Federation (NDSF), officials and members of the Namibia Sports Commission pictured during the team sending-off ceremony to Japan to compete in their maiden Deaflympics. (Photo by: Hesron Kapanga) NAMPA

NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 11 November 2025 - (From left) Namibia Sports Commission Chief Administrator Freddy Mwiya; Namibia Deaf Sport Federation (NDSF) president, Abner Shaya, and Commissioner Linekela Paul Nanyeni during the handing over of national colours to the NDSF president ahead of their trip to Japan to compete in their maiden Deaflympics. (Photo by: Hesron Kapanga) NAMPA

NAMPA

SWAKOPMUND, 11 November 2025 - Executive Director in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Jonas Sheelongo, Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Chief Executive Officer Toska Sam and Technical Coordinator for the SADC Aviation Safety Organisation (SASO) Beloved Mupfururirwa photographed with stakeholders at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Annex 16 Environmental Workshop in Swakopmund on Tuesday. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

NAMPA