Namibia's president on Tuesday appointed Modestus Amutse as the Southern African country's new minister of mines, energy and industry.

Amutse's appointment comes after President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah removed Natangwe Ithete from the position in October, and thereafter held the ministerial post in an acting capacity.

Resource-rich Namibia is aiming for its first crude oil production by 2030 after several major discoveries in recent years. It mines commodities like uranium and diamonds.

A statement from Nandi-Ndaitwah's office said Amutse had previously served as deputy minister of information and communication technology and before that as a member of parliament.