Namibia urges accelerated field development in energy sector

WINDHOEK, April 25– Namibian Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo urged entities behind commercial discoveries in the energy sector to prioritize fast-tracking field development on Wednesday.
Speaking at the Namibia International Energy Conference in Windhoek, Alweendo stressed the need for swift action, emphasizing the importance of expediting production once discoveries are deemed commercially viable.
“To those who have made commercial discoveries, we want you to fast-track field development for all discoveries,” he said. “The fact is that we need the resources out of the ground for the oil and gas industry to flourish,” he added.
Highlighting the significance of recent oil discoveries in the Orange Basin offshore Namibia, Alweendo emphasized their potential to establish the country as a major oil and gas producer in sub-Saharan Africa.
“It is an understatement to say that we are at the dawn of an energy revolution that will transform our economy. Oil discoveries in the Orange Basin suggest the biggest oil yield ever found in sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.
While acknowledging ongoing assessments of commercial viability, he expressed confidence in the prospects and urged swift action to prepare for the transformative impact on the economy.
“I must also hasten to add that we are still assessing the commercial viability of these. However, we are confident that the early projections will prove accurate, and that we need to prepare for a hydrocarbon bounty that will turn Namibia into a major oil and gas producer,” he said.
Alweendo also underscored the untapped potential in other offshore basins, emphasizing the need for exploration and development to unlock further opportunities for Namibia’s energy industry.

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