Staff Writer
Namibia’s offshore oil and gas sector continues to attract international interest, with the latest hydrocarbon licence map showing growing exploration activity across the country’s coastal basins and frontier areas.
Data from the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) shows existing petroleum exploration licences, production areas and blocks that are either open or under application.
Several international oil companies currently hold exploration licences in Namibia.
These include Shell Exploration & Production, TotalEnergies, Chevron Namibia, ExxonMobil, Galp Energia and Rhino Resources.
Other licence holders include ReconAfrica, Tower Resources, Eco Atlantic, Pancontinental Energy and Black Eagle Exploration & Production.
The licence map also shows newly allocated and frontier blocks involving companies such as Baobab Energy, Elephant Oil, Exito Energy Resources, Oranto Petroleum, Apprentice Investment, Eight Offshore Investments and Zambezi Exploration.
Namibia’s offshore Orange Basin remains the main focus of exploration activity following major oil discoveries announced by international operators over the past few years.
The map shows large exploration areas stretching across the southern offshore region, with additional blocks located in northern offshore and onshore areas.
The map also confirms Namibia’s only producing hydrocarbon licence, Production Licence 003, linked to the Kudu gas project operated by BW Kudu and Namcor.
It further identifies open petroleum blocks available for future licensing, as well as applications currently under review by authorities. Protected parks and heritage zones are also included on the map.
Last month, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced plans to speed up petroleum reforms, including progress on the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Amendment Bill, as Namibia moves to prepare for first oil production.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the reforms are aimed at improving regulatory efficiency, strengthening investor confidence and ensuring the country’s offshore oil sector delivers benefits to the wider economy.
