Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
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Organization

Upstream Petroleum Unit

Also known as: UPU · Ustream Petroleum Unit

Upstream Petroleum Unit — regulatory body established under the Office of the President to oversee Namibia's oil and gas sector, amid debate over governance concentration.

Mining & Energy

Oil sector must adapt to geopolitical shifts, Shilunga says

The News

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.

Why it matters

Namibia's oil sector—crucial to the country's economic growth—faces mounting risks from global geopolitical tensions that could disrupt markets, shipping routes, and trade partnerships, making strategic planning and resilient infrastructure essential to protect the industry and drive national development.

22 April 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 22 April

  1. 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 →

Wednesday 8 April

  1. Government restricted from sharing oil and gas sector information

    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 →

Monday 2 March

  1. Petroleum bill raises constitutional accountability concerns

    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 →

Friday 27 February

  1. Petroleum Bill risks weakening oversight by shifting power to Presidency

    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 →

Wednesday 25 February

  1. President challenges Itula to prove oil sector family links

    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 →

Thursday 19 February

  1. NEFF backs petroleum bill as tool for economic freedom

    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 →

Friday 13 February

  1. Swapo MPs defend oil and gas bill's local content focus

    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 →

  2. Proposed Petroleum Act amendments shift regulatory power to presidency

    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 →

Wednesday 11 February

  1. Opposition parties split over Petroleum Amendment Bill governance

    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 →

Friday 6 February

  1. 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 →

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