Also known as: Orange Oil Basin
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The Namibian
… Through the transaction, Galp now also holds 10% of the oil block with the Venus discovery and 9.39% of neighbouring PEL 91. “This transaction positions TotalEnergies as the operator of Namibia’s two largest oil discoveries and strengthens its position in the Orange Basin, suppor …
TotalEnergies gets final approval to take over MopaneWindhoek Observer
… Exploration results in the Orange Basin put the country firmly on the global energy map and brought with them a wave of interest from operators, investors and service providers. …
Why business readiness matters more than first oilInformanté
… Speaking during the ongoing Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) Summit Leadership Conversations in Stavanger, Norway, Amutse said Namibia’s recent oil discoveries in the Orange Basin had moved the country beyond exploration prospects towards potential development. …
Namibia urges investors to seize oil and gas opportunitiesInformanté
Staff Reporter NORWEGIAN energy major Equinor is hoping to make a significant oil discovery offshore Namibia, as it joins a growing group of international companies exploring the Orange Basin. …
Equinor sees big potential in Namibia’s PEL 90Informanté
… Turning to the energy sector, Ashipala-Musavyi said Namibia’s recent offshore oil and gas discoveries in the Orange Basin have positioned the country as an emerging frontier for hydrocarbon exploration. …
Ashipala-Musavyi calls for stronger Namibia-Congo trade and investmentWindhoek Observer
… The first significant breakthrough came in 1974, when a consortium including Chevron, Regent and SOEKOR discovered the Kudu gas field in the Orange Basin, offshore near Oranjemund. …
Namibia’s oil moment: Before we count the barrels, do Namibians understand the opportunity?New Era
… Petroleum discoveries have been made in the Orange Basin, and they have transformed the country’s global energy profile, attracting some of the world’s leading energy companies and investors. …
Oil must benefit Namibians – WitbooiThe Namibian
… The comments come as Namibia prepares for potential oil production following major discoveries in the Orange Basin, with the government seeking to increase local participation in the sector. …
Namibia advised to build capacity rather than protect local businessesInformanté
… Reporter HARMATTAN Energy Limited, a Chevron subsidiary in Namibia, announced that it has reached an agreement with Equinor Energy International AS to farm out a 17.4 percent participating interest in Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) 90 in Block 2813B in Namibia’s Orange Basin …
Chevron farms down interest in Petroleum Exploration License 90 in Namibia to EquinorWindhoek Observer
… The policy comes as Namibia moves closer to developing major offshore discoveries in the Orange Basin, with the government seeking to shift the sector from exploration towards development and production. …
Cabinet approves oil and gas local content policyThe Namibian government has approved TotalEnergies' takeover as operator of petroleum exploration licence 83, which contains the Mopane discovery. TotalEnergies now owns 40% of the block, with partner Galp Energia holding 40%, and plans a three-well appraisal campaign ahead of a final investment decision targeted for 2028.
3 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian government has approved TotalEnergies' takeover as operator of petroleum exploration licence 83, which contains the Mopane discovery. TotalEnergies now owns 40% of the block, with partner Galp Energia holding 40%, and plans a three-well appraisal campaign ahead of a final investment decision targeted for 2028.
3 September 2026 · The Namibian →
As Namibia's energy sector shifts focus from exploration to production readiness, businesses must begin preparing now to participate in the industry, understanding technical standards, complex contracts, and procurement requirements of international operators rather than waiting until production begins.
3 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, speaking at the Offshore Northern Seas Summit in Norway, urged international investors to explore Namibia's emerging oil and gas opportunities, noting that the country has moved beyond exploration to the development phase with recent discoveries in the Orange Basin including Venus, where partners plan a floating production system with approximately 160,000 barrels per day capacity.
30 August 2026 · Informanté →
Norwegian energy major Equinor has acquired a 17.4% participating interest in Petroleum Exploration Licence 90 (PEL 90) offshore Namibia and expressed optimism about the potential for a significant oil discovery in the Orange Basin, with a drill-ready prospect scheduled for testing later this year.
30 August 2026 · Informanté →
The Minister of International Relations called on the Republic of the Congo to increase investment and strengthen economic cooperation, highlighting agricultural and agro-processing value chains, particularly Namibian beef, as key areas for expansion under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
26 August 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia has made significant offshore oil discoveries but has not yet begun commercial production. Before counting potential revenue, the country needs serious national dialogue about resource ownership, development, government revenue, realistic expectations, and preventing an oil boom from becoming a resource curse—but Namibians currently lack sufficient understanding of the industry.
21 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
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 →
At the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference, Solewant Group CEO Solomon Ewanehi argued that local content policies should aim to develop internationally competitive Namibian companies capable of winning work across Africa, rather than simply sheltering domestic businesses from competition.
20 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Harmattan Energy Limited, a Chevron subsidiary, has agreed to farm out a 17.4 percent participating interest in Petroleum Exploration License 90 in Namibia's Orange Basin to Equinor Energy International AS. The transaction is subject to pre-emption rights and regulatory approvals, with an exploration well scheduled before year-end.
20 August 2026 · Informanté →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Economic Association of Namibia chairperson Jason Kasuto warned Namibian companies to immediately upgrade their financial, regulatory, and technical capabilities to compete in the nation's growing oil and gas sector. He stressed that international oil companies operate on strict schedules and will only contract suppliers that meet their standards, which require registration, certification, financial proof, and insurance.
19 August 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that Namibia should prioritize equity ownership in its oil discoveries—particularly Venus, Graff, and Mopane in the Orange Basin—rather than limiting itself to local-content arrangements that only provide wages and services, contrasting this approach with Norway's wealth-building model.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Welwitschia Fund, established in 2022 to convert Namibia's resource wealth into longer-term financial wealth, has recorded a market value of US$30.85 million (N$508.47 million) as of 31 July, with an annualised return of 15.5% since inception. The fund is designed to strengthen Namibia's resilience to economic shocks and promote intergenerational equity, with a companion Sovereign Wealth Fund of Namibia Bill expected to be tabled in Parliament in 2026.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia holds carried stakes in multiple offshore oil and gas blocks, including 10% of the Venus field licence expected to be developed by TotalEnergies by 2029. The article argues that the national conversation should focus on whether these current equity positions will translate into meaningful ownership as production begins.
11 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The US ambassador told an audience at the Namibia Mining Expo that American companies are committed to supporting Namibia's mining and energy development through investment in local jobs, skills development, and value addition across the entire production chain, rather than simply extracting raw materials.
5 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Namibia's economic growth through investment and commercial partnerships, with senior US officials and business leaders meeting Namibian government representatives and industry stakeholders to discuss opportunities in mining, energy and investment.
5 August 2026 · Informanté →
Shell has announced it will fast-track appraisal drilling following an offshore oil discovery in Namibia's Orange Basin, with reservoir quality and fluid characteristics described as the best seen so far within its licence area. The Windhoek Observer cautions that while the discovery is encouraging, Namibia should exercise restraint and national wisdom, as the path from exploration success to sustained prosperity is long and littered with examples of resource-rich nations that failed to convert natural resources into lasting development.
5 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia has retained its position as Africa's leading destination for greenfield FDI, ranking second globally in the 2026 fDi Intelligence Greenfield FDI Performance Index with a score of 7.74, driven by major energy discoveries, renewable energy opportunities, and an improving business environment.
4 August 2026 · Informanté →
A report by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board and the International Labour Organization warns that Namibia currently has only about 45% of the skills required to support its emerging oil and gas sector, with major offshore discoveries by Shell, TotalEnergies, and Galp Energia expected to drive first oil production around 2029 or 2030. The report highlights a mismatch between skills produced by local education and training institutions and the specialized competencies demanded by the industry.
1 August 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy approved TotalEnergies' acquisition of a 40% interest and operatorship of Galp Energia's Mopane oil discovery in the Orange Basin, while Galp will acquire a 10% stake in TotalEnergies' Venus project. The transaction advances Namibia's offshore petroleum sector and strengthens TotalEnergies' strategic presence in the region.
26 July 2026 · Informanté →
Namibian contract workers on TotalEnergies' offshore oil project say they were handed new employment terms on a 'take-it-or-leave-it' basis with no room to negotiate, citing concerns about no pension, limited medical aid, and years without salary increases. TotalEnergies and recruitment firm Apos deny wrongdoing, saying the new terms improve pay and benefits.
22 July 2026 · The Namibian →
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on Namibia and South Africa to move beyond exporting raw materials, saying the two countries must stop "exporting opportunities while importing prosperity" and instead build regional value chains through beneficiation and industrialisation to create employment.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's rapid rise in the global energy market, driven by historic offshore discoveries in the Orange Basin, positions the nation to compete on local-content grounds.
17 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Namibia's offshore oil discoveries have attracted global interest, but international companies must embrace partnership, transparency, and shared progress rather than transactional models, with strict adherence to local taxation and labor laws required by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and NAMCOR.
9 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Minister of International Relations called on Chinese businesses to deepen investment in Namibia, specifically in mineral beneficiation, critical minerals processing, hydrocarbon exploration, renewable energy, and infrastructure development during the Namibia–China Business Forum in Shanghai.
8 July 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia's offshore oil discoveries have attracted international interest, but the country is enforcing strict local content requirements and regulatory compliance to ensure sustainable development and shared national progress. International companies must adhere to Namibian taxation and labour laws as a foundational requirement for operations.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
RHINO Resources' Capricornus-1A appraisal well offshore Namibia has confirmed an oil-bearing reservoir connected to the previously discovered Capricornus-1X well, providing evidence of reservoir continuity in the Capricornus discovery in Block 2914 of the Orange Basin.
3 July 2026 · Informanté →
Crude oil is the single most important commodity for Namibian macroeconomic conditions. Global oil price surges—driven by Middle East disruptions and supply constraints—cascade quickly into domestic fuel price increases, as demonstrated by April-May 2026 fuel price hikes of 19.9% for petrol and 43.9% for diesel.
30 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →