Search MME web site

STRUCTURE
       
     
       
PROFILES - MME ORGANISATION
Minister of Mines and Energy
Honorable Erkki NGHIMTINA          
The Honourable Minister of Mines and Energy is a product of the SWAPO Party having been born at the village of Eembidi, Ohangwena Region in the northern part of the country.

He went into exile in 1974 where he joined the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), the military wing of SWAPO which at the time was involved in the liberation struggle to free our country from the illegal occupation by the then South African Apartheid regime.

He returned back to his country of birth to help in the reconstruction of independent Namibia during June 1989. In 1990 he was appointed Director of Communications in the Defense Force with a rank of colonel prior to his promotion as Deputy Minister of Defense in 1995. He served Minister of Defense for a period spanning over eight years from 1997, and in 2005 he was appointed as Minister of Mines and Energy.

Minister Nghimtina is a radio communication expert and holds a Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) degree from the University of Namibia as well as a National Diploma in Public Administration.
Deputy Minister
Honorable Bernhard ESAU

Academic Qualifications

 
Career/Membership/Positions/Other Activities
 
Permanent Secretary
Joseph S. IITA
Academic Qualifications
  1. Ordinary Technician Diploma in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering - City and Guilds of London Institute
  1. Higher National Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering - City and Guilds of London Institute
  1. BSc.(Honours) Communications (Electronic) Engineering - Leeds Metropolitan University
  1. Master of Public Policy and Administration - UNAM / ISS
Career/Membership/Positions/Other Activities
  1. 1974 - 1975
Military Training in the USSR
  1. 1975 - 1976
 Taking care of the SWAPO Leader.
  1. 1976
 Specialist military training in India.
  1. 1976 - 1977

- Helped train Morning Star detachment
- Was its Communication Crew Commander
- Advisor to Field Medical Officer and Field Political Commissar
- Acted as Field Political Commissar
  1. 1977 - 1978
- Acting Camp Commander - Regional HQ (Eastern Front)
- Commissar at Regional HQ (Eastern Front)
  1. 1979 - 1982
 Barbados - studied Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
  1. 1982 - 1983
 Technical work in various SWAPO camps in Angola
  1. 1983 - 1986

- Director of SWAPO Workers Brigade in Zambia
- Teacher at Namibia Education Centre - Nyango, Zambia
- Tutor - Namibia Extenton Unit
  1. 1986 - 1989
 - United Kingdom, Studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Studied Communications (Electronic) Engineering
  1. 1989 - 1990

- Worked for Election Sub-Centre (Okahao)
- then worked at SWAPO HQ (Windhoek)
- then technical work at the Dept. of Post and Telecommunications
  1. 1990 - 1991
 - United Kingdom, to complete Communication Engineering studies
- Enrolled on a MSc. (RF) Engineering, but could not get funding
  1. 1991
 - Registered with Namibia Engineering Council as Engineer in Training
- Also member of Engineering Professional Association of Namibia (EPA)
  1. 1992
 Office of the President
  1. 1992 - 1995
- Director of Vocational Training Centre Namibia (VTCN)
- Principal of Windhoek Vocational Training Centre (WVTC)
  1. 1995
 Appointed Senior Manager - Telecom Namibia
  1. 1995 - 2000
Permanent Secretary: Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation
  1. 2000 - Present
Permanent Secretary: Mines and Energy
 
Past Board Memberships:
Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Nampower, Namcor, Rössing Uranium, Namgem Manufacturing Company, Namdeb Management Committee, De Beers Centenary AG, DTC (London), De Beers Consolidated Mines, Namibia National Training Organization (NNTO), Impalila Island Project Committee etc.
Past Chairmanships:
  1. Land Reform Advisory Commission
  1. Cabinet appointed Committee on revision of the GRN De Beers Sales Agreement.
Current Board Memberships:
Namdeb, Telecom Namibia, Windhoeker Machiena Fabrik, De Beers SA. - Luxemburg, National Energy Council
Current Chairmanships:
  1. PJTC Co-chair with Angola - Lower Kunene Water Usage
  1. Deputy Chairman - Namdeb
  1. Chairman: Namdeb Properties, Diamond Board, Petrofund as well as various committees such as NEF, ESI, Rural Electrification etc.
International
Represent Namibia on the International Lead Zinc Study Group in Lisbon
Diamond Secretary
Kennedy HAMUTENYA
Academic Qualifications
  1. 1974 - 1976
Mandume Primary School, Katutura, Windhoek - Namibia
  1. 1976 - 1979
Namibia Education Centre, Nyango-Zambia.
  1. 1979 - 1984
Baptist Boys Secondary School Buea, Cameroon.
  1. 1985 - 1987
University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point Wisconsin, USA
(Pre-Engieering)
  1. 1987 - 1993
Colorado School of Mines (BSc. Metallurgical and Materials Engineering).
Career/Membership/Positions/Other Activities
  1. 1984 - 1985

Science and Biology Teacher, Namibia Education Centre,
Kwanza - Sul, Angola.
  1. 1991
Metallurgical Engineer- in - Training, Rössing Uranium, Namibia
  1. 1990 - 1992
Editor - in - Chief, The Mines Ore digger, Colorado School of Mines, Golden Colorado, USA.
  1. 1993 - 1995
Coors Technical Ceramics Company, Golden Colorado - USA
  1. 1995 - 1998
Inspector of Mines, Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME),
Windhoek - Namibia
  1. 1997
 Acting Secretary to the Diamond Board for Namibia
  1. 1998 - 1999
 Secretary to the Diamond Board for Namibia
  1. 1998 - 2000
 Secretary to the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) with De Beers
  1. 1999 - 2001
 Director of Mines, MME - Windhoek
  1. 2000
 Acting Diamond Commissioner
  1. 2000 - Present
 Director: Diamond Trading company (DTC) Namibia
  1. 2000 - Present
 Alternate Director: Namdeb Diamond Corporation (Pty) Limited
  1. 2000 - Present
Director: Namgem Diamond Manufacturing Company (Pty) Limited
  1. 2001 - Present
Diamond Commissioner
  1. 2001 - Present
Deputy Chairperson De Beers Marine Namibia (Pty) Limited
  1. 2000 - Present
Chairperson: Minerals Development Fund (MDF) Control Board
  1. 2001 - Present
Namibian Government Negotiator for the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds
   

Director: GeologicalSurvey 
Dr. Gabi SCHNEIDER      
Academic Qualifications
  1. Graduated in 1980 with a M.Sc. in Economic Geology from the University of Frankfurt, where she also obtained her Ph.D. in the Faculty of Science in 1984.
Career/Membership/Positions/Other Activities
  1. After working for the Institute for Geochemistry and Metallgesellschaft, both in Frankfurt, she joined the Geological Survey of Namibia in 1985 as a Senior Geologist. Here she headed the laboratory, before she became Deputy Director in the Division Applied Geology.
  1. Following her appointment as Director of Mines in 1995, she has been the Director of the Geological Survey of Namibia since 1996. Her professional experience covers economic and exploration geology, mineralogy and geochemistry as well as management and administration.
  1. She is a member of the Mineral Development Fund Control Board of Namibia, the Vice Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Namibian Institute for Mining and Technology, and Vice Chairperson of the National Heritage Council of Namibia, where she also holds the post of Chairperson of the Scientific Committee.
  1. She is a director of Anglo Gold Ashanti Namibia and a founding member of the Small Miners Association of Namibia, as well as a director of the Small Miner’s Assistance Center.
  1. Dr Schneider serves on the Council of the University of Namibia, where she is also a member of the Executive Committee.
  1. She has been an external examiner of the University of St. Andrews, UK; the University of Frankfurt, Germany and UNISA, South Africa.
  1. In 2004, Dr. Schneider has been elected as a Councilor to the International Union of Geological Science at the 32nd International Geological Congress in Florence, Italy. She furthermore serves on the International Science Committee for the 33rd International Geological Congress.
  1. She is a senior advisor for the UN International Year of Planet Earth and serves on the UNESCO Advisory Committee for Global Geoparks.
  1. Dr. Schneider is an honorary life member of the Geological Society of Namibia and is registered with the South Africa Council of Natural Scientists.
  1. She also served as a Director of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR).
Director: Energy
Selma-Penna UTONIH
Academic Qualifications
  1. MSc. Electrical Engineer; Institution of Technology in Plsen, Czechoslovakia
  1. Diploma in Training Methodology; Turin, Italy
  1. Teacher's Certificate; Ongwediva, Namibia
  1. At present, Mrs Utonih is doing an MBA Degree, UNAM / MSM, Netherlands
Career/Membership/Positions/Other Activities
  1. Mrs. Utonih serves as a member of the Advisory Committee for African Summit on Sustainable use of Water and Energy, Sutton, UK
  1. Focal point "Women in Science and Technology", Gaborone, Botswana
  1. Member, Sub-Commitee on Baynes, PJTC (Namibia & Angola), Ordinary Member of National Energy Fund
  1. DANIDA / NAMIBIA Review Team Member on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Capacity Building REEE CAP
  1. Chairperson of Biomass Steering Committee
  1. Member of Khomas Regional Council Working Committee on NDP2 Mid-Term Review
  1. Prior to her appointment as Director of Energy in 2005, Mrs. Utonih held the position of Deputy Director of Electricity at MME, since January 2003. Other positions include that of Chief Control Officer in MME from 1991-1996. She has been a Chief Development Planner at the then Ministry of Higher Education in the period 1996 -1999. Mrs. Utonih has been a Programme Leader of Energy Resources Management and Engineering Technology, MRC, UNAM from 2000 to 2002. Senior Electrical Instructor, United Nations Vocational Training Centre, Science and Mathematics Teacher at Nyango Education Center in Zambia. and School Teacher at Ongwediva Primary School 1973-1974.
Mining Commisioner
Erasmus SHIVOLO
Academic Qualifications
  1. 1979 – 1980
 Oshigambo High School, Ohangwena Region
  1. 1980 - 1984
Obtained National and City & Guilds of London, Certificates in Electrical-Electronics circuits; Government Technical and Commercial College Ombe, Cameroon
  1. 1987 – 1991
 Engineering Courses in geology, mining and electrical engineering; Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, USA
  1. May 1995
 B.Sc. - General Engineering; New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology, Socorro, New Mexico, USA
  1. August 1995
 B.Sc. - Materials Science Engineering; New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology, Socorro, New Mexico, USA
Career/Membership/Positions/Other Activities
  1. 1984 -1985
 Teacher at Kwanza Zul Education Cente, Angola
  1. 02/96 – 12/97
 Inspector of Mine Machinery, Ministry of Mines and Energy
  1. 04/2001 - 12/2002
 Chief Engineer, Ministry of Mines and Energy
  1. 01/2003 to 03/2004
Deputy Director of Mines, Ministry of Mines and Energy
  1. 03/2004 - Present
Mining Commissioner, Ministry of Mines and Energy
Representations:
  1. Director of NAMDEB Diamond Corporation
  2. Director of NAMGEM Manufacturing
  3. Chairman of NAMDEB Management Committee
  4. Director of the Minerals Development Fund Control Board
  5. Serves on numerous Government Committees for the implementation of Government Directives and Programmes.
  6. Registered with the Engineering Council of Namibia
 
 Director: Administration & Finance 
John TITUS

Graduated at the University of Namibia with majors in Physics and Chemistry. Then employed at the institution as Junior Lecturer from 1993 to 1995. Joined the Ministry of Mines and Energy in 1995 as Petroleum Inspector. Promoted to Deputy Director in 2001 and then to Director: Administration and Finance in 2005 until present. Since I joined the Ministry I attended various short courses in Energy and Management related fields.

I am a Head Gas Commissioner, representing the Namibian government to ensure that the Bilateral Gas Trade Agreement between Namibia and South Africa is implemented. In addition I am a member to the Natural Sciences Programme Committee of the Namibia National Commission for UNESCO, a member to the GRN e-Government Coordination Committee and a member of the National Tender Board of Namibia.


 
     
 
© 2006 The Ministry of Mines and Energy. All rights reserved.