Also known as: Venus oil and gas project · the Venus oil and gas project · Venus development · Venus oil discovery · Venus fishing vessel · the major Venus oil discovery
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Venus
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
New Era
At least 15 foreign crew members of the Venus fishing vessel (mainly Russians) belonging to Hodago, say they have been stuck on the vessel for several months. …
Stuck on vessel…New Era
… The company is part of the consortium that made the major Venus oil discovery in the offshore Orange Basin in 2022, one of the biggest finds in recent years. …
TotalEnergies quits US offshore wind projectsThe Namibian
… Across petroleum licences PEL 56 and PEL 83, TotalEnergies has confirmed approximately 1.5 billion barrels of discovered resources, anchored by the Venus and Mopane projects. …
TotalEnergies strikes oil gold in MopaneThe Namibian
… Namibia has attracted heightened international attention since 2022 after a series of offshore discoveries in the Orange Basin, including Total Energies’ Venus discovery and Galp’s Mopane complex, which have positioned the country as a key emerging oil and gas frontier. …
Chevron returns as diamond sponsor for energy conference as Namibia eyes first oilNew Era
… TotalEnergies will take over as operator of Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) 83, which hosts the Mopane oil discoveries, while Galp will acquire interests in PEL 56 and PEL 91, home to the giant Venus discovery. …
TotalEnergies, Galp strengthen ties with Namibia … Orange Basin discoveries step onto global energy stageThe Namibian
… Galp, in turn, will enter PEL 56 and PEL 91, home to the Venus discovery. Galp exchanged a 40% participating interest in PEL 83 for a 10% stake in PEL 56 and a 9.4% interest in PEL 91, while retaining a 40% interest in PEL 83. …
TotalEnergies hold talks with Nandi-NdaitwahThe Namibian
The Venus oil and gas project is unlikely to generate revenue for the Namibian government before 2035. …
Another 10 years before oil generates returnsThe Namibian
Most direct jobs at the Venus oil and gas project will go to highly-specialised foreign workers, according to the project’s Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (Esia) report. …
Venus promises work, not for localsNew Era
… With world-class discoveries like Venus, Graff, and Mopane, the nation is no longer just a frontier; it is the ‘New Energy Frontier’ of Africa. …
Local website leverages data sovereignty in oil, gasThe Namibian
… Recent discoveries, including Venus operated by TotalEnergies, Graff and Jonker operated by Shell, and Mopane operated by Galp, are oil-led but have high gas-to-oil ratios. …
Gas planning crucialfor offshore successNamibia's fiscal deficit is projected to widen to 6.5% of GDP in the 2026/27 financial year due to a N$2.1 billion revenue shortfall, rising debt-servicing costs, and economic pressures from foot-and-mouth disease and El Niño. Government revenue is forecast at N$87.5 billion against a budget of N$89.6 billion, with economic growth expected to slow to between 2% and 2.3% in 2026.
20 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's fiscal deficit is projected to widen to 6.5% of GDP in the 2026/27 financial year due to a N$2.1 billion revenue shortfall, rising debt-servicing costs, and economic pressures from foot-and-mouth disease and El Niño. Government revenue is forecast at N$87.5 billion against a budget of N$89.6 billion, with economic growth expected to slow to between 2% and 2.3% in 2026.
20 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Simonis Storm warns that Namibia's draft Welwitschia Fund Bill, which is set to be tabled in Parliament this month, is "not ready to enact" due to missing critical formulas and governance safeguards. The firm cited concerns including unspecified petroleum deposit and withdrawal parameters, a fixed revenue threshold that could halt savings during downturns, and excessive concentration of powers in the finance minister without parliamentary checks.
8 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Namibian government and French company TotalEnergies remain in talks over the country's first major offshore oil project following the 2022 Venus discovery, with reported disagreements over licence period, international arbitration, taxation, the new petroleum law, and a stabilisation clause that would limit future legislative changes.
4 October 2026 · The Namibian →
TotalEnergies chief executive Patrick Pouyanné said the company could make a final decision in October on whether to invest N$279 billion in Namibia's Venus oil field, discovered offshore in 2022. The project is expected to produce 160,000 barrels per day once fully operational.
30 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Columbia University adjunct professor Jenik Radon has warned that Namibia could benefit from delaying TotalEnergies' final investment decision on its Venus oilfield to prepare its legal framework, cautioning that international oil companies can take advantage if a country's legal system is not prepared.
29 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Jenik Radon, a Columbia University adjunct professor, told the Bank of Namibia symposium that delaying TotalEnergies' final investment decision on its Venus oilfield would give Namibia time to prepare its legal framework and avoid disadvantageous terms like stabilisation clauses.
29 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian bonds returned 16.38% in 2025, the second-strongest year on record, but the gains were driven by a regional rally in South African bonds rather than domestic fundamentals. The local market faced widening budget deficits, slower growth, and increased spreads, with returns insulated by imported foreign investor demand.
22 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
An editorial reflects on Heroes Day and Namibia's economic prospects from oil, critical minerals, and green hydrogen, with the IMF projecting nominal GDP could reach N$400.8 billion by 2031, but warns that benefits risk remaining concentrated unless local content principles ensure broad-based prosperity.
25 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The proposed Venus oil discovery could require US$17 billion in investment—exceeding Namibia's estimated annual economy—with planned production of 150,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day. The article argues that entrepreneurs should focus on the supporting ecosystem of services and industries that the major project would create, rather than the headline transaction itself.
24 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
TotalEnergies says a Final Investment Decision on the Venus oil project must be taken before 2027, citing completed engineering work and ongoing discussions with authorities. The company warns that contractor tender offers have validity periods and delays could increase costs or require reassessment.
23 August 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
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 →
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 proposed development of TotalEnergies' Venus oil discovery could require about US$17 billion (N$274 billion) in investment, an amount larger than Namibia's entire annual GDP, according to Uanguta.
17 August 2026 · Namibian Sun →
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 →
As Namibia prepares for major oil production starting around 2029, an analyst argues that without deliberate efforts to ensure broad-based prosperity—not just enrichment of a connected elite—the country risks repeating the pattern of oil-dependent economies where wealth concentrates and vulnerability increases when prices fall.
1 July 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
Recent oil and gas discoveries in the Orange Basin, with an over 80% exploration success rate, position Namibia to avoid reliance on imported fuel and build local refining capacity—a lesson highlighted by recent fuel price shocks tied to Middle Eastern conflicts.
5 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's emerging Orange Basin oil and gas discoveries require strong regulatory and policy frameworks before commercial development momentum becomes difficult to redirect. The country must develop technical regulatory strength, clarify its fiscal regime, and build credible local content systems before major projects are sanctioned, drawing lessons from Guyana, Trinidad, Mozambique and other petroleum states.
20 April 2026 · The Namibian →
TotalEnergies Vice President Mike Sangster met with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to brief her on advances in the Venus offshore oil discovery, which the company expects will create about 5,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction. The company has submitted development plans to Namibian authorities and targets a final investment decision in mid-2026, though the project faces significant technical challenges including 3,000 metres water depth and location 320 kilometres from the coastline.
17 April 2026 · New Era →
At least 15 foreign crew members, predominantly Russian, aboard the Venus fishing vessel owned by Hodago say they have been stuck on the vessel for several months with their passports allegedly confiscated by the company. The Russian Embassy told New Era it is aware of the situation and is working with relevant authorities to resolve the issue.
9 April 2026 · New Era →
Energy company TotalEnergies has agreed to exit US offshore wind development, relinquishing two leases and receiving refunds under a settlement with the US Department of the Interior. The company will redirect its investment into US gas and power projects, citing offshore wind's high costs and potential to increase electricity prices.
25 March 2026 · New Era →
French energy company TotalEnergies has confirmed approximately 1.5 billion barrels of discovered resources across its Namibian offshore petroleum licences, anchored by the Venus and Mopane projects, with the Mopane field alone estimated to hold 800 million to 1.1 billion barrels of recoverable resources and planned production exceeding 200,000 barrels per day once developed.
25 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Chevron has renewed its diamond sponsorship of the Namibia International Energy Conference (scheduled for April 2026) as the country prepares for first oil following major offshore discoveries in the Orange Basin. The conference aims to bring together government, energy companies, and investors to discuss Namibia's emerging oil and gas sector, which analysts project could contribute up to 18% of GDP at peak production.
4 February 2026 · The Namibian →
TotalEnergies and Galp have announced a partnership reshaping operatorship of key offshore licences in Namibia's Orange Basin, with TotalEnergies taking over PEL 83 (Mopane) and Galp acquiring interests in PEL 56 and PEL 91 (Venus). The companies briefed President Nandi-Ndaitwah on their long-term commitment to developing these discoveries responsibly while creating jobs and economic benefits for Namibians.
3 February 2026 · New Era →
TotalEnergies and Galp Energia met President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to update her on their December agreement involving offshore petroleum licences, with TotalEnergies taking operatorship of the Mopane discoveries and Galp entering the Venus project. Both companies outlined expected contributions to employment and local industry participation, with Venus development projected to generate N$127–229 billion over 25 years.
3 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Venus oil and gas project is expected to produce first oil around 2030, but the government won't receive significant revenue until five years later due to the company's need to recover initial investment costs of US$15 billion. The environmental and social impact assessment estimates total government revenue of N$127–229 billion over a 25-year project timeframe, with petroleum income tax at 35% only kicking in after upfront costs are recouped.
28 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Venus oil and gas project reveals that most direct jobs will go to highly specialised foreign workers, with only 500 of 2,500 construction-phase jobs being direct positions that require skills not currently available in Namibia. While indirect employment in civil construction, transportation, logistics and workforce services may benefit local communities in Erongo and ||Kharas regions, the direct impact on national employment is limited.
21 January 2026 · The Namibian →
NamibiaOilAndGas.com, a homegrown platform, has been created to safeguard Namibian oil and gas industry data, prevent "data drain," and ensure that critical information on the Orange Basin discoveries remains managed and owned by Namibians rather than international organisations.
6 January 2026 · New Era →