A Defining Moment for Namibia's Oil Sector
Windhoek hosted the fourth Namibia Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition (NOGC) 2026, where Vice President Lucia Witbooi delivered a clear message: the country's petroleum discoveries must become a national success through tangible benefits. Speaking at the official opening, Witbooi brought greetings from President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who could not attend, and set the tone for three days of discussions under the theme "From Decision to Dividend: Making Namibia's Oil Work for Namibians."
"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," Witbooi said, as reported by both The Namibian and Realnews Magazine. She emphasized that the resource must become employment for Namibians, opportunities for enterprises, skills for young people, technology for institutions, infrastructure for the economy, revenues for national development, and savings for future generations.
The conference, held in Windhoek, brought together more than 1,500 delegates, over 120 speakers, and more than 70 exhibitors from Namibia and around the world, according to Realnews Magazine. This compares with 885 delegates two years ago, as noted by The Namibian. The event was 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 strategic partners the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) and SNC Incorporated. It received official endorsement from the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy.
From Decision to Dividend: Policy and Preparation
The conference marked a shift from exploration toward development, with local content, enterprise participation, skills, infrastructure, financing, and investment emerging as central priorities, according to Realnews Magazine. Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse emphasized the need to prepare the country for production and expand Namibian participation across the 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," Amutse said, as carried by Realnews Magazine. He stressed that Namibia expects Namibian employment to be maximised, Namibian suppliers prioritised, and skills and technology transferred, alongside meaningful Namibian participation, ownership, and financing across the value chain.
The Minister also addressed investor concerns about the regulatory environment. "Fiscal certainty is a stable and transparent framework for petroleum revenues. Namibia does not move the goalposts," he stated, adding that "local content, properly done, is not a tax on your investment." He noted that local banks have indicated readiness to receive bankable proposals from the oil and gas sector.
Industry Developments and Future Plans
The Vice President's address touched on specific developments in Namibia's nascent oil industry. The Namibian reported that Venus and Mopane discoveries were highlighted, along with Shell's PEL 0039 Merlin-1X well results. Venus development plans include an FPSO with approximately 150,000 barrels per day capacity, with first oil expected around 2030. The Mopane discovery is progressing with further exploration and appraisal.
Cabinet has approved the National Upstream Petroleum Local Content Policy in principle, and the Welwitschia Sovereign Wealth Fund was referenced, alongside the National Development Plan (NDP6) and its 2030 outcomes, according to The Namibian.
Perspectives on Local Content and National Benefit
Jason Kasuto, Chairperson of the Economic Association of Namibia, framed the industry's purpose in human terms: "Oil is not the point; oil is actually the how. Our people are the why." The conference program included a Local Content Masterclass and a NIPDB Local Content Pitching Session, as well as supplier workshops focused on helping domestic businesses meet international industry standards, according to Realnews Magazine.
The Vice President's remarks carried a cautionary note, as reported by The Namibian: "speed cannot come at the expense of sound governance," underlining the government's commitment to disciplined execution and avoiding an "enclave industry" that leaves the broader economy untouched. She called for local content to be seen as a strategic business responsibility, not merely a compliance obligation, and expressed Namibia's ambition to become a regional energy and services hub.