Regulatory body designated by the Presidency to oversee upstream petroleum local content policy, established under the Office of the President in 2026.
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September 2026
The Namibian
Upstream Petroleum Unitwas appointed asthe local content regulator
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“The Presidency has moved to take control of upstream petroleum local content by appointing the Upstream Petroleum Unit (UPU) as the local content regulator.”
the Upstream Petroleum Unitis placed inthe Office of the President
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“Institutional certainty: the placement of upstream petroleum under the Upstream Petroleum Unit in the Office of the President is not a disruption; it is a deliberate realignment to protect a sensitive and strategic sector, drawn from the experience of producing nations, and it comes with full accountability, including annual reporting to the National Assembly.”
Upstream Petroleum Unitbecame aware ofconcerns through media reports published on 22 July
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“The head of the Upstream Petroleum Unit within the Namibian Presidency, Kornelia Shilunga, says the unit became aware of the concerns through media reports published on 22 July.”
Upstream Petroleum Unitreceived briefing onconference progress, programme, and international participation
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“The engagement provided an opportunity for the delegation to brief the Upstream Petroleum Unit on the progress of preparations, the conference programme, expected international participation and the strategic discussions that will shape the 2026 event.”
The Upstream Petroleum Unitwas created inthe office of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
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“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.”
“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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has defended the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Amendment Bill, saying it is necessary to safeguard Namibia's oil and gas industry and manage petroleum resources in the national interest. Ngurare urged lawmakers to put aside political differences and support the legislation, citing the unanimous bipartisan passage of the original Petroleum Act in 1991, while noting that debate has focused on criticism of placing the Upstream Petroleum Unit under the Presidency rather than on how citizens will benefit from newly discovered resources.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.