Niël Terblanché
The Namibian Petroleum Operators Association (NAMPOA) has elected a new board at its recent Annual General Meeting (AGM), positioning the organisation for a crucial role in Namibia’s rapidly expanding oil and gas sector.
With Namibia’s oil and gas sector on the verge of significant growth, the newly elected NAMPOA board has pledged to continue advocating for industry best practices and fostering an investment-friendly environment.
The newly elected board comprises distinguished industry leaders, including Klaus Endresen, Country Chair of BW Kudu; Eduardo Rodriguez, Shell Namibia Country Chair; Diogo Martins, Galp Country Manager; Selma Usiku, Eco Atlantic Director; and Laurent Roché, TotalEnergies Namibia Country Chair.
The new leadership team will assume office in January 2025 and will serve for a maximum of two years, building upon the foundations laid by their predecessors.
Their collective experience and expertise are expected to play a vital role in promoting industry best practices, strengthening collaboration with key stakeholders, particularly the Namibian Government, and refining technical and legal frameworks to support the sector’s expansion.
NAMPOA’s leadership transition comes at a critical juncture, as the discovery of substantial oil reserves in Namibia since February 2022 has set the stage for an economic transformation.
The board’s key priorities will include shaping a mutually beneficial local content policy, increasing industry knowledge dissemination, and ensuring that Namibians benefit from the anticipated growth.
The association is committed to maintaining Namibia as an attractive investment destination while fostering sustainable development in the petroleum sector.
Established in 1992, NAMPOA serves as the voice of Namibia’s upstream oil and gas industry, acting as a conduit between the industry, the public, and government institutions, particularly the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
The association currently represents eleven major petroleum operators, including BW Kudu, Chevron, Eco Atlantic, ExxonMobil, Galp, NAMCOR, Recon Africa, Rhino Resources, Shell, TotalEnergies, and Tower Resources, alongside three associate members – Custos, Impact Oil and Gas, and Woodside.
Over the past three decades, NAMPOA’s members have collectively invested over N$80 billion in Namibia’s economy.
The association has also played a key role in skills development, with its members funding the Petroleum Training and Education Fund (PETROFUND), which has contributed more than N$114.8 million to the upskilling of Namibian youth since 1994.
The fund currently holds a value exceeding N$323 million, underscoring the industry’s long-term commitment to national development.
NAMPOA’s leadership will be instrumental in positioning Namibia on the global petroleum map while also ensuring that the country’s natural resources contribute meaningfully to its economic and social development.
