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February 2026
The Namibian
Knowledge Kattiholds4.4% of Sintana Energy shares
Source
“According to recent company disclosures, the biggest identified shareholders include Charlestown Energy Partners LLC, with 4.8% of the shares, Perga Capital Partners LP with 4.9%, and Namibian businessman Knowledge Katti with 4.4%.”
Knowledge Kattisays an agreement to sellhis company's stake in PEL104 to TotalEnergies and Petrobras remains subject to government approval
Source
“Namibian businessman Knowledge Katti says an agreement to sell his company's stake in petroleum exploration licence (PEL) 104 to international oil companies remains subject to government approval.”
Knowledge Kattihas been mademulti-billionaire with public resources in oil exploration licences
Source
“What Has Knowledge Katti done for Namibia in order to be made a multi-billionaire with public resources in the form of oil exploration licences instead of any other "previously disadvantaged" Namibian?”
Rent-seeking auctioneers of public resources like Kattiare known to stashhundreds of millions of dollars in foreign/Swiss accounts
Source
“Rent-seeking auctioneers of public resources like Katti are known to stash hundreds of millions of dollars, which they made from the BEE schemes, in foreign/Swiss accounts and thus denying Namibia the use such money for development.”
Knowledge Kattireceived windfall ofN$221 million from selling Inter Oil to Sintana Energy in 2023
Source
“Last year The Namibian reported that in 2023, Katti received a windfall of N$221 million, which included N$74 million in cash and N$147 million in shares, from selling his company, Inter Oil, to Canadian firm Sintana Energy.”
Knowledge Kattiwas imbued withpetroleum licences for the best oil blocks
Source
“For decades, one Knowledge Katti was imbued with petroleum licences for the best oil blocks without any indication of having the resources to exploit them.”
Knowledge Kattiisa well documented benefactor of Geingob
Source
“Besides, a wheeler dealer by the name of Knowledge Katti, who amassed billions off Namibia's oil resources because of connections to government officials, is a well documented benefactor of Geingob.”
Knowledge Kattimade a fortune fromoil speculation, amassing oil and minerals exploration licences
Source
“Prominent among the beneficiaries has been Geingob's benefactor Knowledge Katti, who made a fortune from oil speculation, amassing oil and minerals exploration licences with the help of senior ministry officials.”
Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani has appealed against the environmental commissioner's decision to grant an environmental clearance certificate to Namibian Marine Phosphate for the Sandpiper marine phosphate mining project, appealing against the decision in its entirety and all conditions in the certificate.
Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani has appealed against the environmental commissioner's decision to grant an environmental clearance certificate to Namibian Marine Phosphate for the Sandpiper marine phosphate mining project, appealing against the decision in its entirety and all conditions in the certificate.
Sintana Energy has signed an agreement to buy 44% of Maravilla Oil and Gas for N$105 million, giving it a stake in petroleum exploration licence 37 in the Walvis Basin. The transaction includes cash and newly issued Sintana shares, with independent directors having verified the acquisition price is fair despite Knowledge Katti's involvement in both the buying and selling companies.
The Swapo Party Youth League wants the Cabinet to oversee environmental clearance decisions, arguing that ministers must supervise decisions within their ministries. Critics including former Cabinet minister Helmut Angula warn that Cabinet involvement could politicise the process and that administrators should remain responsible for ECC applications.
The Namibian editorial commends President Nandi-Ndaitwah for opposing seabed phosphate mining but criticizes the lack of clear policy, after environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti granted Namibian Marine Phosphate an environmental clearance certificate despite more than a decade of unresolved controversy.
The Swapo Party Youth League has called for the environmental clearance certificate granted to Namibian Marine Phosphate to be reviewed and set aside, citing concerns that the project could threaten Namibia's fishing industry and marine environment through pollution and habitat damage.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah reportedly objects to environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti's approval of an environmental clearance certificate for Namibian Marine Phosphate's Sandpiper project to mine for fertilisers in the Atlantic Ocean, saying Namibia should not be used for an ocean experiment. The president held a meeting with senior government officials this week to express concerns about the decision made without apparent consultation on a matter of massive public interest.
The Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations has threatened to challenge the validity of Namibian Marine Phosphate's environmental clearance certificate, alleging the environmental commissioner failed to respond to repeated information requests since May 2022 and broke a July 2022 promise to provide a response before the certificate was issued on 5 August.
The Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations has enlisted lawyer Sisa Namandje to challenge the Environmental Clearance Certificate granted to Namibia Marine Phosphate for the Sandpiper Marine Phosphate Project, citing the Environmental Commissioner's lack of transparency and failure to address the industry's repeated concerns since 2022.
The environmental commissioner issued an environmental clearance certificate on 5 August for Knowledge Katti's Namibia Marine Phosphate's Sandpiper marine phosphate mining project offshore Namibia, valid until 5 August 2029. The decision has triggered opposition from the IPC and conservationists who have raised long-running environmental and industry concerns.
Namibia's environment ministry granted an Environmental Clearance Certificate to Namibia Marine Phosphate for proposed seabed phosphate mining, sparking division among Namibians. Critics including marine experts and the opposition warn the project could damage fish stocks and the fishing industry, while others argue it will create jobs.
Namibian oil and gas investor Knowledge Katti has issued a statement supporting the Petroleum Amendment Bill and the proposed Upstream Petroleum Unit in the Office of the President, arguing the reforms are necessary to strengthen oversight, attract investment, and accelerate Namibia's transition to oil production.
Knowledge Katti has urged Parliament and national leaders to support the creation of the Upstream Petroleum Unit (UPU) and the Petroleum Amendment Bill, arguing these reforms are necessary to help Namibia transition from oil exploration to production and address long-standing governance challenges in the sector.
Sintana Energy, a Canadian company listed on the London Stock Exchange, has announced plans to trade on the Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX). The company aims to give Namibians an opportunity to invest directly in offshore oil developments.
James Unomasa Uerikua, a Swapo parliamentarian and former governor of Otjozondjupa who died in a motor vehicle accident, is remembered by business figure Knowledge Katti as a compassionate leader who consistently supported entrepreneurs and demonstrated integrity.
James Uerikua, a Swapo parliamentarian and former Otjozondjupa governor who died in a road accident on Friday, is being remembered by businessman Knowledge Katti for his integrity and unwavering support of Namibian entrepreneurs. Katti recalls that Uerikua consistently encouraged business people and never used his position to belittle them, instead offering genuine commendation for their contributions to the country's economic development.
Trigon Metals has received its first quarterly payment from the sale of Kombat Mine to Horizon Corporation Limited, part of an agreed schedule of eight payments totalling approximately N$429 million. The company will use the capital to fund exploration of its Addana Project in Morocco after the mine's sale following operational failures including water management issues and pump failure in January 2025.
Canadian energy company Sintana Energy announced that the Mopane complex's oil resources have been upgraded to 1.38 billion barrels of oil equivalent, a 57% increase from the previously estimated 875 million barrels, based on Galp Energia's latest assessment.
Brazilian oil company Petrobras said it holds no current Namibian assets following a courtesy visit to government officials, though it and TotalEnergies are bidders for a 42.5% stake each in a petroleum exploration licence in the Lüderitz Basin, pending regulatory approval.
Oil explorer Pancontinental Energy halted stock trading on Tuesday as it searches for a new farm-in partner to fund continued exploration and drilling in Namibian oil block 2 713, after Woodside Energy declined its option to acquire a 56% stake in May 2025. The company received licence extension approval from Namibia's Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, with an announcement of a new partner expected by 19 March.
Paragon Investment and businessman Knowledge Katti have separately expressed interest in acquiring a 10.2% equity stake in Rössing Uranium Limited currently held by South Africa's Industrial Development Corporation. Katti has called for the stake to be sold exclusively to a 100% Namibian entity, arguing that greater local private sector participation in strategic mineral assets is key to national economic sovereignty.
Canadian oil and gas company Sintana Energy has listed on the London Stock Exchange's alternative investment market, with significant shareholding from Namibian businessman Knowledge Katti and operations across Namibia, Uruguay and Angola. The listing followed an acquisition of London-listed Challenger Energy late last year.
The Kombat Mine in Otjozondjupa will resume operations later this year, with New Horizon Copper aiming to produce 60,000 tonnes of copper per month by year's end. UK-based Horizon Corporation has committed N$390 million to restart the mine after purchasing an 80% stake from Trigon in 2024.
Namibian businessman Knowledge Katti confirmed that an agreement to sell a stake in petroleum exploration licence PEL104 to TotalEnergies and Petrobras remains subject to government approval. Under the terms, TotalEnergies will acquire 42.5%, Petrobras 42.5%, the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia 10%, and Eight Offshore 5%.
International oil giants TotalEnergies and Petrobras announced the acquisition of a stake in oil block PEL104 without prior ministerial approval, prompting the Namibian government to declare the move unlawful. Both companies have since denied wrongdoing and said the transaction remains subject to regulatory approval from the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has asked the attorney general to review the circumstances surrounding Paragon Oil & Gas' petroleum exploration licence (PEL 37) renewal, which was granted for four years despite regulations limiting third renewals to two years. The licence resurfaced as a controversy when former mines minister Natangwe Ithete was fired last year, allegedly for approving the renewal against the president's wishes.
The Namibian editorial argues that black economic empowerment schemes have primarily enriched a small political elite rather than benefiting the broader population, citing examples like Knowledge Katti's oil licences and the Fishrot scandal. The piece calls for government to review and overhaul BEE policies, which it says discourage genuine entrepreneurship and productivity while allowing rent-seekers to hoard public resources.
Businessman Knowledge Katti's Sintana Energy has paid a N$16.3 million deposit to secure negotiation rights over a stake in PEL 37, an oil exploration licence controlled by Paragon Oil & Gas. The licence has been controversial, linked to the firing of former mines minister Natangwe Ithete, and Sintana has until April 2026 to complete due diligence and negotiate terms to become a shareholder in Paragon.