Namibia’s burgeoning natural gas sector received a resounding international endorsement this past week, positioning the Southern African nation on the cusp of joining the world’s elite energy exporters. The powerful prediction came directly from the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), the organisation representing nations holding over 70% of global proven gas reserves, during its Secretary General’s engagement at the 3rd Namibia Oil and Gas Conference (NOGC2025).
HE Eng. Mohamed Hamel left little room for doubt. “I have no doubt that Namibia will soon join this family of natural gas exporters,” Hamel declared, placing Namibia alongside recent GECF African entrants Mauritania, Mozambique, and Senegal – all now established LNG exporters. This powerful vote of confidence signals Namibia’s rapid transition from exploration hotspot to a significant future player on the global energy map.
Hamel began his address by grounding Namibia’s current energy ambitions in its hard-won history. He spoke of the profound honour of speaking in a land of “vast horizons, deep-rooted heritage, and rising energy ambition,” recalling his own early awareness, as a student in Algiers, of Namibia’s “heroic struggle” for independence. Paying tribute to iconic leaders like Chief Samuel Maharero, Jacob Morenga, and Anna Mungunda, Hamel drew a direct line between national sovereignty and resource development. “Namibia’s long and dignified journey to freedom and sovereignty, achieved only 35 years ago, stands as a powerful reminder that the right to develop natural resources is inseparable from the right to chart one’s own destiny,” he stated. He emphasised that Namibia now enters its energy story “not merely as a site of exploration, but as a pathway to opportunity, justice, and shared progress.”
Speaking on behalf of the GECF, a coalition of twenty leading gas producers spanning Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eurasia responsible for half of global gas exports, Hamel positioned natural gas as indispensable within the turbulent global energy landscape. He described it as a “stabilising force — a fuel that is available, reliable, affordable, and low in emissions,” playing a “critical role in meeting the world’s rising energy needs and development aspirations.” Crucially, Hamel moved beyond the common perception of gas as a transitional fuel, asserting the GECF’s conviction: “natural gas is not just a bridge fuel — it is a destination fuel. It is a pillar of energy security and sustainable development.”
This perspective is particularly vital for Africa. Hamel presented stark statistics underscoring the continent’s acute energy crisis: 630 million Africans lack access to electricity, while over a billion rely on wood and charcoal for cooking – a situation disproportionately harming women and children through the burdens of fuel collection and exposure to harmful indoor air pollution. While the GECF Global Gas Outlook projects Africa’s overall energy demand to nearly double by 2050, driven partly by a population surge of one billion, per capita consumption risks stagnation. “This,” Hamel stressed, “is a stark reminder that access to modern energy is not keeping pace with population growth.”
Natural gas, Hamel argued, offers the continent “practical, scalable solutions” – from generating reliable electricity and enabling clean cooking facilities to producing fertiliser and powering industrialisation. He revealed that Africa’s gas demand is expected to grow three times faster than the global average, reaching nearly 400 billion cubic meters by 2050. The GECF, he reaffirmed, is “firmly committed to supporting Africa’s energy development journey,” citing the Algiers Declaration adopted at the recent GECF Summit. This declaration pledges resolute support for African nations in eradicating energy poverty, advancing industrialisation, and ensuring equitable socio-economic development, aligning with both the UN’s 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
It is within this continental context that Namibia’s potential shines brightly. Hamel lauded Namibia’s “rising energy ambition,” pinpointing the catalyst: major offshore discoveries like Venus, Graff, and Mopane. These resources, he asserted, position Namibia uniquely to become a “clean energy hub.” The pathway involves strategically developing associated gas, investing in crucial LNG export infrastructure, and integrating gas into the domestic economy – powering local manufacturing, transforming transport, and driving electrification. “Namibia stands today not only as a new energy player,” Hamel proclaimed, “but as a symbol of what is possible when vision meets leadership.” He envisioned a future where “with natural gas as a pillar, Namibia can accelerate its development, strengthen its sovereignty, and inspire a continent.”
Concluding his address, Hamel extended the full weight of the GECF’s institutional support to Namibia: “The Gas Exporting Countries Forum wishes you every success in your energy journey and stands firmly with you as a partner and friend.” This endorsement transcends mere diplomatic courtesy. It represents a significant geopolitical and economic signal, recognising Namibia’s substantial resources and strategic intent. The prediction of imminent membership within the GECF “family” underscores Namibia’s trajectory from promising frontier to a future key contributor to global gas supply and a beacon of energy-driven development for Africa. As Namibia leverages its sovereign resources, guided by its historical legacy of self-determination, the world’s leading gas nations are now formally acknowledging its place among their ranks.