Also known as: UPU · Ustream Petroleum Unit
Upstream Petroleum Unit — newly established body in the Office of the President regulating Namibia's upstream oil and gas sector, at center of governance reform debates in 2026.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Upstream Petroleum Unit is proposed to receive major shift of authority in petroleum governance under the amendment bill
“At the centre of the current proposal is a major shift of authority towards the Office of the President and the Upstream Petroleum Unit.”
Part 1. The Petroleum Amendment Bill and Constitutional GovernanceWindhoek Observer
The Upstream Petroleum Unit was created in the office of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
“In a memorandum addressed to parliamentarians and national leaders, Katti said the creation of the UPU in the office of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was meant to address long-standing governance and operational problems in the petroleum sector.”
Katti defends oil sector reformsInformanté
Upstream Petroleum Unit is headed by Kornelia Shilunga
“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 uncertaintyThe Namibian
Upstream Petroleum Unit is established within presidency, headed by director general and deputy director general
“It establishes an Upstream petroleum Unit (UPU) within the presidency, headed by a director general and a deputy director general.”
Build Strong Institutions, Not EmpiresNew Era
Upstream Petroleum Unit would be established within the Presidency, headed by a Director General and Deputy Director General
“The Bill establishes an Upstream Petroleum Unit (UPU) within the Presidency, headed by a Director General and a Deputy Director General.”
Opinion – Build strong institutions of accountability not personal empiresThe Namibian
Upstream Petroleum Unit will keep bureaucracy out and elevate governance
“He supported the executive overseeing the Upstream Petroleum Unit, saying it will keep bureaucracy out and further elevate governance.”
NEFF supports petroleum billThe Namibian
Upstream Petroleum Unit will be established in the Office of the President
“A central Pillar of the proposed amendments is the establishment of a new Upstream Petroleum Unit in the Office of the President, and the concomitant reassignment of certain regulatory functions from the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, specifically from the petroleum commissioner's office to this unit.”
EXPLAINER: Amendments to the Petroleum ActInformanté
Upstream Petroleum Unit will participate in NIEC 2026 in Windhoek
“The UPU confirmed it will take part in the eighth edition of NIEC, scheduled for 14 to 16 April 2026, where it will engage with international and local investors, regulators and industry stakeholders.”
Upstream Petroleum Unit to take centre stage at NIEC 2026 as Namibia pushes towards first oilThe Namibian
Upstream Petroleum Unit is established by the amendment bill to be housed in the Office of the President
“Amutse said the amendment bill establishes the Upstream Petroleum Unit, a new regulatory authority to be housed in the Office of the President.”
Opposition warns Namibia’s new oil bill could fuel Fishrot-style corruption under PresidencyInformanté
Upstream Petroleum Unit will be headed by a Director-General and Deputy Director-General
“This Unit will be headed by a Director-General and a Deputy Director-General, who will be responsible for directing, managing, and supervising all upstream petroleum operations in Namibia.”
New Petroleum Bill requires disclosure of oil interests by top officialsAn opinion article argues that Namibia should not rush to formalize a more centralized petroleum governance structure that would shift authority to the Office of the President and the Upstream Petroleum Unit before parliament and the public fully consider the constitutional and accountability consequences.
27 May 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion article argues that Namibia should not rush to formalize a more centralized petroleum governance structure that would shift authority to the Office of the President and the Upstream Petroleum Unit before parliament and the public fully consider the constitutional and accountability consequences.
27 May 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Civil society organisations have accused the government of lack of transparency on oil and gas information access, with various agencies declining to provide petroleum licence details and citing organisational restructuring. Multiple officials and institutions have refused to respond to inquiries, prompting warnings that withholding critical sector information undermines public trust and the right to know.
8 April 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that the proposed petroleum amendment bill, which would shift upstream oil governance to the Office of the President through a new Upstream Petroleum Unit, risks concentrating power and eroding parliamentary oversight, drawing parallels to the Fishrot scandal and recommending instead a specialist regulator outside the Presidency with stronger parliamentary accountability and implementation of existing anti-corruption laws.
2 March 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that the proposed Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Amendment Bill, which would move upstream oil governance from the Ministry of Mines and Energy to the Office of the President, poses constitutional and accountability risks by concentrating discretion outside parliamentary scrutiny and historical safeguards. The author proposes instead creating an independent, specialised upstream regulator outside the Presidency, strengthening conflict-of-interest rules, operationalising dormant accountability laws, and equipping Parliament with resources to oversee the sector.
27 February 2026 · New Era →
President Nandi-Ndaitwah has challenged Independent Patriots for Change leader Panduleni Itula to provide empirical evidence linking her family to Namibia's upstream oil sector, reiterating her denial of direct or indirect interests. Itula held his third oil-related press conference in less than three weeks, presenting what he termed documented evidence of a systematic network involving the president's sons and husband across the petroleum value chain, including fuel imports, distribution, and investments.
25 February 2026 · New Era →
The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters party has endorsed the petroleum bill, arguing it strengthens the state's control over oil resources and serves the struggle for economic independence. NEFF deputy president Longinus Iipumbu told Parliament that Namibia must become the owner, controller, and beneficiary of its petroleum wealth rather than a spectator to foreign exploitation.
19 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Swapo members of parliament have defended the petroleum bill, arguing it ensures resource benefits contribute to inclusive economic growth and long-term national capacity through local content, skills development, and environmental protection. An IPC opposition MP questioned whether proposed penalties for conflict-of-interest violations are adequate for a billion-dollar industry.
13 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The proposed amendments to Namibia's Petroleum Act would establish a new Upstream Petroleum Unit in the Office of the President and transfer certain regulatory functions from the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy to this new body. The changes aim to create a streamlined, specialist regulator with direct presidential oversight to improve decision-making efficiency and investor confidence amid multiple large-scale oil and gas projects.
13 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian opposition leaders have divided over a proposed amendment to transfer upstream petroleum powers from the mines and energy minister to the Office of the President. While the government argues the change will strengthen governance of the emerging oil and gas sector, opposition figures including IPC leader Panduleni Itula, APP's Imms Nashinge, and PDM's McHenry Venaani warn that the shift risks undermining parliamentary oversight, constitutional separation of powers, and regulatory accountability.
11 February 2026 · New Era →
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 →
Opposition parties have raised concerns that Namibia's new petroleum amendment bill, which would place the Upstream Petroleum Unit under the Office of the President, could lead to unchecked executive power and corruption similar to the Fishrot scandal in the fishing sector. They point to cautionary examples from Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, and Russia, where energy sector governance failures and political manipulation resulted from poor institutional oversight.
6 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Amendment Bill 2025, introduced in Parliament, will require top government officials overseeing the petroleum sector to declare any interests in oil and gas and establish a new Upstream Petroleum Unit under the Office of the President to modernize regulation of the sector. Opposition members including PDM leader McHenry Venaani raised concerns that the Bill concentrates excessive power in the presidency.
5 February 2026 · Informanté →