Namibia’s 11bn-Barrel Oil Frontier Beckons Global Investors
*** As 129 speakers, major energy firms set for August 18–20 conference
Namibia is positioning itself as one of Africa’s most promising emerging oil and gas investment destinations, with an estimated 11 billion barrels of oil and 2.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves attracting growing interest from international oil companies, investors and energy service providers.
Against this backdrop, global investors, energy companies, policymakers, regulators and industry experts are expected to converge in Namibia from August 18–20, 2026, for the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition.
The three-day event is being organised by the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN), Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) and Hanns Seidel Foundation, in strategic partnership with the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR).
According to the Special Report of the African Association of Energy Journalists and Publishers, AJERAP, with members – publishers, editors and correspondents – from the 54 African nations, Namibia’s emergence as a new oil frontier gained significant momentum in February 2022 when NAMCOR, Shell Namibia Upstream B.V. and QatarEnergy announced the discovery of significant quantities of light oil at the Graff-1 well offshore Namibia.
The development marked a major turning point for the country’s petroleum industry and was followed by another significant light-oil discovery by TotalEnergies in Block 2913B in the Orange Basin.
The discoveries, alongside advances in deepwater exploration and drilling technology and heightened geopolitical interest in energy resources, have strengthened Namibia’s appeal to international oil companies, investors and other energy industry players.
The developments have consequently positioned Namibia among Africa’s emerging “new frontiers” for oil and gas investment.
Focus on building an integrated oil economy
The conference is expected to go beyond exploration and production, with a strong focus on ensuring that Namibia’s emerging petroleum industry delivers broader economic benefits.
The organisers said the event would examine investment opportunities, local content development, financing, infrastructure and the wider economic impact of oil and gas development.
A major objective is to ensure that oil and gas investments do not create isolated production enclaves but instead contribute to an integrated industrial base with strong backward and forward linkages to the wider economy.
The organisers also want the development of the sector to create sustainable employment opportunities and contribute to the social welfare of Namibians.
They further expect resolutions from the conference to contribute to a strategic roadmap for the public and private sectors as Namibia navigates the opportunities, challenges and risks associated with developing an oil economy.
129 speakers
The conference has attracted a broad range of speakers from across Africa and the global energy industry, with 129 speakers listed for the event.
Felix Ogbe, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB); Philip Mshelbila, Secretary General, Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF); Bolaji Ososami, Managing Director, Triumph Engineering; Wole Ogunsanya, Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN); Victor Ekpenyong, Chief Executive Officer, Kenyon International; Ranti Omole, CEO, Radial Circle Group; Ibilola Amao, Principal Consultant, Lonadek Global Services; Oise Ihonde, Director of Business Development, MODEC; Solomon Ewanehi, GCEO, Solewant Group; Ben Ubleble, Executive Secretary, Solewant Energy Training Institute (SETI); and Arinze Okafor, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Namibia Investment and Finance Academy (NIFA), are among the speakers.
Other speakers include Obinna Ezeobi, General Manager, Corporate Communications, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Nigeria; Abubakar Abbas, Senior Energy Forecast Analyst, Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF); Temilola Eniolorunda, Information Security Analyst, Digital Encode Limited; John Okereafor, Business Development Manager, Upstream Services; Okeoghene Ugbehe, Energy Infrapreneur and Head of Business, Umugini Pipeline Infrastructure Limited; and Grace Orife, MD/CEO, Lynx Analytics Ltd.
Also, among the prominent speakers are Namibia’s Vice President, Lucia Witbooi; Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Modeste Amutse; Minister of Justice and Labour Relations, Philemon Wise Emmanuel; and senior officials from the Namibian Presidency and Ministry of Mines and Energy.
The event will also feature Victoria Sibeya, Acting Managing Director of NAMCOR; Travis Smithard, CEO of Rhino Resources Namibia; and Eduardo Rodriguez, Country Chair and Chairperson of NAMPOA at Shell Namibia Upstream B.V.
Terry Gebhardt, Vice President, Exploration at Woodside Energy; Adriano Bastos, Head of Upstream at Galp; and Paul Eardley-Taylor, Head of Oil & Gas at Standard Bank, South Africa; as well as Executives and specialists from Baker Hughes, MODEC, McDermott, Halliburton, SLB, Yinson, Subsea7, OneSubsea, TotalEnergies, Standard Bank and other major energy and financial institutions are also listed among the speakers.
Major companies back conference
The event has received backing from a wide range of companies and industry organisations.
The conference is officially endorsed by Namibia’s Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy and hosted by the Economic Association of Namibia, NIPDB and Hanns Seidel Foundation.
Sponsors and partners include Rhino Resources, SNC Incorporated, NAMCOR, Cotemar, Baker Hughes, MODEC, First National Bank Namibia, RMB Namibia, McDermott, Copia Group, AFC Mercy, GNPC Explorco, TotalEnergies EP Namibia, Shell, Bank Windhoek, SLB, Woodside, Hanwha Ocean, Standard Bank, Halliburton, Galp, Yinson Production and PETAN, among others.
The extensive participation reflects the growing interest in Namibia’s petroleum opportunities and the wider value chain that could emerge around exploration, offshore production, engineering, logistics, finance, local content and infrastructure.
Exhibition to showcase oil and gas opportunities
The conference will also feature a major exhibition involving companies and organisations from Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa and other parts of Africa.
Exhibitors include NAMCOR, NCDMB, PETAN, GNPC Explorco, MODEC, FNB Namibia, RMB Namibia, Petroleum Agency SA, South African Oil & Gas Alliance, Copia Group, AFC Mercy and a range of engineering, logistics, construction, technology and professional services companies.
The exhibition is expected to provide companies with opportunities to showcase technologies, services and solutions required to support Namibia’s developing petroleum industry.
AJERAP to provide Pan-African coverage
AJERAP will provide coverage of developments from the conference to audiences across the continent.
The conference comes at a critical stage in Namibia’s energy development, as the country seeks to transform major offshore discoveries into commercial projects while maximising local economic participation.
For investors and industry players, the August gathering is expected to provide an important platform to assess Namibia’s petroleum potential, investment environment and the opportunities emerging across its oil and gas value chain.
