Kornelia Shilunga

Also known as: Deputy mines minister Kornelia Shilunga · Honourable Kornelia Shilunga · Hon. Kornelia Shilunga

Head of the Upstream Petroleum Unit in the Presidency overseeing Namibia's emerging oil and gas sector governance and local content policy implementation.

2025-01-202026-09-12

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

July 2026
22 JulWindhoek Observer
Kornelia Shilunga confirmed attendance at the conference
Source
“Shilunga welcomed the update on preparations and confirmed her attendance at the conference, emphasising the importance of collaboration between government, industry and strategic partners.”
NOGC delegation meets upstream unit ahead of conference
May 2026
12 MayInformanté
Kornelia Shilunga was appointed as head of the UPU
Source
“The appointment of Kornelia Shilunga as head of the UPU has been questioned by some who present her as an unfamiliar face to the industry.”
Knowledge Katti backs Petroleum Amendment Bill and Upstream Petroleum Unit
11 MayWindhoek Observer
Kornelia Shilunga played an important role in promoting Namibia's oil and gas sector internationally during her time as deputy minister
Source
“He also defended the appointment of Kornelia Shilunga as head of the UPU, saying she played an important role in promoting Namibia's oil and gas sector internationally during her time as deputy minister of mines and energy.”
Katti defends oil sector reforms
April 2026
22 AprInformanté
Kornelia Shilunga called on Namibia's oil and gas sector to stay alert to evolving geopolitical environment
Source
“The Head of the Upstream Petroleum Unit within the Namibian Presidency, Kornelia Shilunga, has called on Namibia's oil and gas sector to stay alert to the evolving geopolitical environment by identifying new trade corridors, investing in resilient infrastructure, and strengthening partnerships capable of withstanding an era of global geopolitical tension.”
Shilunga urges oil and gas sector to strengthen resilience amid geopolitical uncertainty
22 AprInformanté
Kornelia Shilunga urged stakeholders to invest in Namibia's oil and gas sector
Source
“She further encouraged stakeholders to invest in Namibia's oil and gas sector to support its continued development.”
Shilunga urges oil and gas sector to strengthen resilience amid geopolitical uncertainty
February 2026
20 FebThe Namibian
Kornelia Shilunga was appointed special adviser in the Presidency for upstream petroleum unit
Source
“President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah last year appointed Kornelia Shilunga and Carlo McLeod as special advisers in the Presidency to establish and manage the newly created upstream petroleum unit.”
Mines ministry says regulatory powers remain unchanged
6 FebInformanté
Kornelia Shilunga heads the UPU
Source
“The UPU, headed by Special Advisor Kornelia Shilunga, was established within the Presidency to oversee upstream petroleum governance.”
Upstream Petroleum Unit to take centre stage at NIEC 2026 as Namibia pushes towards first oil
January 2025
20 JanThe Namibian
Deputy mines minister Kornelia Shilunga said Namdia falls under finance ministry
Source
“Deputy mines minister Kornelia Shilunga, when approached by The Namibian to discuss the impact of the heist on the country's reputation as a leading diamond producer, said Namdia falls under the finance ministry.”
Mines ministry mum on Namdia heist

Mining & Energy

Presidency appoints Upstream Petroleum Unit as petroleum local content regulator

The News

The Presidency has designated the Upstream Petroleum Unit as the regulator of upstream petroleum local content, following Cabinet approval of a new local content policy on 4 August. This represents a shift from an earlier version that gave regulatory powers to the Ministry of Industrialisation, Mines and Energy, a change that has drawn parliamentary concerns about reduced oversight of the natural resource sector.

2 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 2 September

Presidency appoints Upstream Petroleum Unit as petroleum local content regulator
The Presidency has designated the Upstream Petroleum Unit as the regulator of upstream petroleum local content, following Cabinet approval of a new local content policy on 4 August. This represents a shift from an earlier version that gave regulatory powers to the Ministry of Industrialisation, Mines and Energy, a change that has drawn parliamentary concerns about reduced oversight of the natural resource sector.
2 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 20 August

Government assures oil and gas investors of policy certainty
At the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference, mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse reassured investors that policy uncertainty will not derail Namibia's most advanced offshore oil projects, citing institutional, policy, and fiscal certainty. The move of upstream petroleum control from the energy ministry to the Office of the Presidency is a deliberate realignment to protect the sector, Amutse said, while a new local content policy approved this month provides investors with clear expectations.
20 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Oil success measured by benefits to Namibian lives
Vice President Lucia Witbooi said Namibia's oil discoveries will be measured on how many Namibian lives they improve, and called on Namibians to actively participate in developing the emerging oil and gas industry to create employment, skills, and infrastructure.
20 August 2026 · New Era →
4th Namibia Oil and Gas Conference concludes with sector focus
The Namibia Oil and Gas Conference 2026 brought together over 1,500 delegates, more than 120 speakers, and over 70 exhibitors to discuss the country's emerging petroleum sector and its contribution to national development, with discussions centred on investment, local content, enterprise development, skills, infrastructure, and financing.
20 August 2026 · Informanté →
Cabinet approves Namibia's upstream petroleum local content policy
Namibia's Cabinet has approved the National Upstream Petroleum Local Content Policy, designed to increase Namibian participation across the petroleum value chain through local business development, employment, skills transfer, and procurement access. The government aims to move from exploration to production between 2026 and 2030, prioritising local employment, suppliers, and skills development.
20 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 19 August

Minister urges Namibia to prepare for oil production, maximise local benefits
At the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference 2026, Honourable Modestus Amutse, Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, called on Namibia to be ready for first oil and to maximise local benefits from the industry, addressing discoveries in the Orange Basin.
19 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia outlines oil and gas benefits strategy
Special Advisor Kornelia Shilunga outlined Namibia's vision for converting oil and gas sector decisions into national benefits at the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference 2026.
19 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 2 August

Presidency investigates TotalEnergies employment terms for local workers
The Namibian Presidency has launched an urgent investigation into employment conditions at TotalEnergies EP after local workers alleged unfair contract terms and inadequate benefits during their transition from recruitment company Apos to direct employment with the company. The workers raised concerns over remuneration, pension benefits, medical aid and recognition of years of service.
2 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 28 July

Government accelerates vocational training for oil and gas sector
The government has accelerated efforts to equip Namibians with technical skills for the emerging oil and gas industry, warning that employment opportunities could be lost to foreign workers if local capacity is not developed in time. A presidential special advisor said expanding vocational training programmes is critical to ensuring Namibians are ready for jobs expected to be created as exploration progresses.
28 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Sunday 26 July

Offshore oil work demands competence beyond safety training
Upstream Petroleum Unit head Kornelia Shilunga told young people at a Walvis Bay summit that success in Namibia's oil and gas industry requires competence, professionalism, and international standards—not just the Bosiet safety certificate, which is a mandatory requirement for those already employed offshore, not a path to employment.
26 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 22 July

NOGC delegation meets Upstream Petroleum Unit before August 2026
A delegation from the 4th Namibia Oil & Gas Conference met with the Upstream Petroleum Unit in the Office of the President to brief officials on conference preparations and expected participation. The conference is scheduled for 18–20 August 2026 in Windhoek under the theme "From Decision to Dividend: Making Namibia's Oil Work for Namibians."
22 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 20 May

PM Ngurare defends President Nandi-Ndaitwah's right to full two terms
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare said President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah should be allowed to serve her full two constitutional terms without distraction from succession debates, which he called premature and deliberately designed to undermine the administration.
20 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 12 May

Oil and gas investor backs petroleum reform bill
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.
12 May 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 11 May

Businessman calls for Parliament backing of oil sector reforms
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.
11 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 22 April

Oil sector must adapt to geopolitical shifts, Shilunga says
Kornelia Shilunga, Head of the Upstream Petroleum Unit in the Presidency, urged Namibia's oil and gas sector to identify new trade corridors, invest in resilient infrastructure, and strengthen partnerships amid global geopolitical tension. She called on stakeholders to remain alert to commodity markets, trade dynamics, and shipping security while investing in Namibia's oil and gas development.
22 April 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 20 February

Mines ministry asserts full regulatory control over petroleum licensing
The Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy has told parliament that regulatory authority over mining and petroleum activities remains with the ministry, and that final decisions on petroleum licensing rest with the minister under existing law. The minister emphasised that the current assessment process—whereby applications are reviewed by the petroleum commissioner and management before recommendations reach the minister—does not require approval from advisory structures outside the ministry.
20 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 6 February

Namibia's new Upstream Petroleum Unit to present at 2026 energy conference
Namibia's newly established Upstream Petroleum Unit will participate in the Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) in April 2026 to strengthen investor confidence and signal government commitment to transparent, investment-ready upstream petroleum governance as the country moves toward first oil production.
6 February 2026 · Informanté →