NOGC 2026 ends with push to turn discoveries into dividends
The 4th Namibia Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition (NOGC) 2026 has concluded in Windhoek with a strong call for Namibia to translate its petroleum discoveries into jobs, skills, businesses, investment and long-term national value.
Held under the theme “From Decision to Dividend: Making Namibia’s Oil Work for Namibians,” the three-day conference attracted more than 1,500 delegates, over 120 speakers and more than 70 exhibitors from Namibia and around the world.
Hosted by the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN) in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), with the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) and SNC Incorporated as strategic partners, the conference was officially endorsed by the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy.
Discussions reflected Namibia’s transition from exploration towards development, with local content, enterprise participation, skills development, infrastructure, financing and investment emerging as key priorities.
Speaking on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Vice President Lucia Witbooi said Namibia’s petroleum resources would only become a national success if they delivered tangible benefits to citizens.
“Discovery is not the destination. A resource beneath our waters becomes a national success only when it is responsibly developed and translated into tangible improvements in the lives of our people,” she said.
“It must become employment for Namibians, opportunities for our enterprises, skills for our young people, technology for our institutions, infrastructure for our economy, revenues for national development, and savings for future generations.”
Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse said the government was preparing the country to move from exploration to production while maximising Namibian participation across the petroleum value chain.
“Our strategic plan for 2026 to 2030 carries one organising idea, which is to move this country from exploration to readiness, so that Namibia is ready onshore when production begins offshore,” he said.
Amutse said Namibia expected local employment to be maximised, domestic suppliers prioritised, and skills and technology transferred to Namibians.
He also stressed the importance of meaningful Namibian participation, ownership and financing across the value chain, alongside fiscal certainty and a stable and transparent petroleum revenue framework.
“Namibia does not move the goalposts,” he said, assuring international investors that local content should not be viewed as a tax on investment.
“An industry surrounded by capable Namibian suppliers, skilled Namibian workers and invested Namibian communities is an industry with social licence, political stability and a future measured in generations,” he said.
The minister also disclosed that local banks were ready to consider bankable proposals from the oil and gas sector, potentially opening another avenue for domestic businesses seeking to participate in the emerging industry.
Jason Kasuto, Chairperson of the Economic Association of Namibia and Managing Director of Monasa Advisory & Associates, captured the conference’s broader objective in a succinct message:
“Oil is not the point; oil is actually the how. Our people are the why.”
The conference moved beyond policy discussions to practical initiatives aimed at strengthening local participation.
The Local Content Masterclass provided Namibian businesses and policymakers with strategies for increasing domestic participation, while the NIPDB Local Content Pitching Session gave entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their capabilities and partnership opportunities to industry leaders and investors.
Supplier workshops also focused on helping domestic companies meet international industry standards and position themselves for opportunities emerging from Namibia’s growing petroleum sector.
The closing discussions reinforced the need for stronger collaboration among government, industry, investors, financial institutions and local businesses as Namibia prepares for the next phase of petroleum development.
With major oil discoveries placing Namibia firmly on the global energy map, the challenge is now shifting from attracting exploration investment to ensuring that the emerging industry creates broad-based economic value.
NOGC 2026 therefore ended with a renewed focus on ensuring that Namibia is not merely recognised as an attractive global energy destination, but is adequately prepared to convert its petroleum resources into sustainable prosperity for its people.
The Namibia Oil and Gas Conference is a leading platform for Namibia’s oil, gas and wider energy sectors, bringing together government officials, industry leaders, investors, policymakers and businesses to discuss emerging opportunities and challenges.
Since its inception, the conference has provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, build partnerships and examine strategies for shaping the future of Namibia’s energy industry through technical sessions, networking and an extensive exhibition.
