The third edition of the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference officially commenced on 12 August 2025, at the Mercure Hotel in Windhoek, under the theme “From Exploration to Action: Positioning Namibia as the Next Energy Frontier.” The conference served as a vital platform for dialogue and collaboration within Namibia’s rapidly emerging oil and gas industry.
This year’s edition attracted 1161 delegates and featured 73 exhibitors, showcasing the sector’s growing significance on both regional and global levels. The conference opened with a strong focus on youth empowerment through the Future Generations Masterclasses, held in collaboration with the Namibia Energy Youth Forum. This initiative was designed to support and inspire young professionals as they explore careers in Namibia’s nascent oil and gas sector.
Over 60 youth participated in the Masterclasses, reflecting a surge in interest among Namibia’s younger generation to engage in the country’s energy future. The program provided insights into career paths, industry opportunities, and direct engagement with experienced professionals. The official opening ceremony took place on August 13, gathering both local and international stakeholders to reflect on Namibia’s journey and prospects in the oil and gas space. Special Advisor and Head of Upstream Petroleum Unit, Kornelia Shilunga delivered the keynote address on behalf of Her Excellency Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, highlighting the importance of ensuring that Namibia’s oil and gas developments translate into tangible socioeconomic benefits for its people “The true measure of our success will not be in the number of barrels extracted, but in the number of lives uplifted. Our guiding frameworks all place people at the center of development.
From Vision 2023, we draw the imperative to transform our economy into a knowledge-driven, diversified, and sustainable one, with oil and gas serving as a catalyst and not a crutch. NDP6 will prioritize investments in infrastructure, human capital, and local enterprise development, assuring that our resource wealth supports industrialisation and economic participation,” she remarked. Furthermore, she added on how the ambitions will be achieved “ Oil and gas development must do as follows: create decent jobs for Namibians across the value chain; build domestic capacity through skills transfer and technology sharing; stimulate economic diversification by linking with manufacturing, logistics, energy, and other sectors; safeguard our environment and uphold our commitment to a just energy transition; and generate energy revenues that are wisely invested in the well-being of current and future generations.
This is the spirit in which we move from exploration to action. This is how we will position ourselves as the next energy frontier,” she noted. Also speaking at the opening, Hon. Natangwe Ithete, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mines, Industries and Energy, urged Namibians to use the platform to explore ways to advance the country as an energy leader. “We must take a stand to manage, guide our offshore discovery jealously, and be a model country that translates oil and gas discovery into a catalyst for peace, unity and prosperity. Let our future generations sing songs of praise to all of us here today for putting in place legal frameworks and operational tools that will ensure there is no mismanagement of these precious resources,” he noted.
His Excellency, Mohamed Hamel, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), further emphasized Namibia’s growing role in the global energy arena. “Namibia’s long and dignified journey to freedom, achieved only 35 years ago, stands as a pivotal reminder that the right to develop natural resources is inseparable from the right to chart one’s own destiny. Today, as Namibia enters this new phase in its energy history, it does not sow merely as the side of exploration but as a pathway to opportunities and shared progress,” he stated. He further spoke on Namibia’s potential to transform its resource wealth into long-term development benefits, “Namibia’s natural oil and gas resources position this country to become a clean energy hub by developing gas, investing in energy infrastructure, and integrating gas into local manufacturing. The recent offshore discoveries have placed Namibia firmly on the map as one of Africa’s most promising energy frontiers and one of the most promising oil and gas producers in the future.
Therefore, Namibia stands today as a symbol of what is possible when vision meets leadership, Namibia can accelerate its development,” he added. Delegates were welcomed by Jason Kasuto, Chairman of the Economic Association of Namibia and Managing Director of Monasa Advisory & Associates, who spoke on the growing sector “It is my firm conviction that Namibia is building a foundation and although at times, it may seem that the country is dragging its feet in concluding key policy, regulatory, incentive and infrastructure requirements for the oil & gas industry, what Namibia is doing, is building the roots that will establish a solid foundation for the eventual accelerated but SUSTAINBLE AND INCLUSIVE growth of this industry,” He further emphasized on the achievements “The proof is in the track record, meaning despite Namibia being one of the last countries on the African continent to gain its independence in 1990, it has become amongst the top sustained stable democracies on the continent. And that is because the roots that have been formed during the liberation struggle, created the preparation, the values for peace and stability, thus creating the right conditions to thrive,” he added.
Leonard Neshuku, Marine Service Specialist at Barloworld, Namibia’s official Caterpillar dealer, and an attendee, highlighted the importance of the conference “Since last year, we’ve built strong networks with stakeholders in the oil and gas sector, which have been invaluable to our growth. It’s a dynamic and fast-expanding industry with significant opportunities for both established players and newcomers. We’re excited about the possibilities ahead and are even considering sponsorship for the next conference,” he remarked. The conference was well attended until August 17th, with a program that was filled with strategic panel discussions focusing on key topics such as The Current Landscape of Oil and Gas in Namibia, as well as Finance, Independents, and Critical Infrastructure to develop a sustainable energy mix.
It also facilitated a dedicated business-to-business (B2B) service aimed at bridging connections between investors and companies interested and engaged with Namibia’s oil and gas industry. This initiative streamlined business interactions by offering tailored matchmaking services to help businesses identify potential partners, explore investment opportunities, and navigate the complexities of the sector. As the oil and gas sector continues to grow, the conference served as a platform that spearheads conversations on the prospects and growth of the industry in Namibia. It provided a space to learn from countries that have already succeeded in the sector, with the goal of positioning Namibia as the next energy frontier.