Namibia’s oil and gas sector took centre stage as the 4th edition of the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference (NOGC) 2026 brought together government leaders, international and local energy companies, investors, financial institutions, service providers, entrepreneurs, academics, students and civil society to discuss the country’s emerging petroleum sector and its contribution to long-term national development. Held at a pivotal moment for Namibia’s energy industry, following recent offshore discoveries and growing international interest, the three-day conference welcomed over 1,500 delegates, more than 120 speakers, and over 70 exhibitors from Namibia and around the world.
Hosted by the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN) in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), with strategic partners the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) and SNC Incorporated, and officially endorsed by the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, the conference was held under the theme “From Decision to Dividend: Making Namibia’s Oil Work for Namibians.” Guided by the ethos “Locally Rooted. Globally Connected. Open to All,” NOGC 2026 focused on Namibia’s transition from exploration to development, with discussions centred on investment, local content, enterprise development, skills, infrastructure, financing and the future of the country’s energy sector. A key highlight of the programme was the Local Content Masterclass, which provided Namibian businesses and policymakers with practical strategies to increase local participation in the oil and gas industry.
This was complemented by the NIPDB Local Content Pitching Session, where Namibian entrepreneurs showcased their capabilities, solutions and partnership opportunities to industry leaders and investors. The conference also featured Speed Networking, creating opportunities for delegates to establish strategic connections and explore potential partnerships, while the Future Generations Session, building on the previous edition, brought together young professionals, students, industry leaders, educators and policymakers to explore skills development, innovation, entrepreneurship and career pathways within the energy sector. Speaking on behalf of Her Excellency Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia, Her Excellency Lucia Witbooi, the Vice President of the Republic of Namibia called on Namibians to actively participate in the development of the country’s emerging oil and gas industry “Discovery is not the destination.
A resource beneath our waters becomes a national success only when it is responsibly developed and translated into tangible improvements in the lives of our people. It must become employment for Namibians, opportunities for our enterprises, skills for our young people, technology for our institutions, infrastructure for our economy, revenues for national development, and savings for future generations. This is why the theme of this conference is particularly appropriate,” she noted. Her Excellency Witbooi further spoke about the importance of maintaining a stable investment environment and aligning the development of the oil and gas industry with Namibia’s national development priorities “The Government will continue to provide a stable and credible investment environment. Our political stability, constitutional democracy, independent judiciary, and commitment to the rule of law remain important foundations for investment. We must demonstrate that Namibia can be both investment-friendly and institutionally firm, both commercially competitive and protective of the public interest. Our Sixth National Development Plan, NDP6, places economic growth, transformation, and resilience at the centre of Namibia’s development agenda.
Within the oil and gas focus area, NDP6 envisages the development of an oil and gas industry that contributes to Namibia’s socio-economic development and sets 2030 outcomes for the emergence of domestic oil production. It also identifies stronger legal and policy frameworks, sustainable field development, infrastructure and investment growth, and skills development and innovation as important strategies,” she stated. In his ministerial address, Hon. Modestus Amutse, Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, spoke about Namibia’s preparations to transition from oil and gas exploration to production “Our strategic plan for 2026 to 2030 carries one organising idea, which is to move this country from exploration to readiness, so that Namibia is ready onshore when production begins offshore.
Namibia expects Namibian employment to be maximised, Namibian suppliers prioritised, skills and technology transferred, and meaningful Namibian participation, ownership and financing across the value chain. Fiscal certainty is a stable and transparent framework for petroleum revenues. Namibia does not move the goalposts. To our international partners: local content, properly done, is not a tax on your investment. An industry surrounded by capable Namibian suppliers, skilled Namibian workers and invested Namibian communities is an industry with social licence, political stability and a future measured in generations. That is what the policy builds, and my ministry will implement it with you, not against you. I am happy to state that our local banks have informed me that they are ready to receive bankable proposals from the oil and gas sector for their consideration,” he noted.
Additionally, H.E. Dr Philip Mshelbila, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), addressed the conference on Namibia’s need to develop its own energy pathway while drawing on international experience and expertise through partnerships, capacity building, training and institutional exchanges “Namibia’s objective should not be to import another country’s model, but to build its own on the strongest possible evidence, having learned from the experiences of others. Namibia did not build these capabilities alone. International experience, both successes and setbacks, can shorten its learning curve without imposing foreign models. Within this broader context, the Gas Exporting Countries Forum can be a valuable partner. Its 20 member countries, including nine from Africa, account for over 70% of global proven gas reserves and more than half of global gas exports. The Forum brings expertise across the gas value chain, reinforced by analysis of demand, supply, energy, trade, investment, infrastructure and technology. Through policy dialogue, capacity building, training and institutional exchanges, these capabilities can support Namibia as it evaluates its development pathways. It is not perception; it is partnership,” he highlighted. Welcoming delegates to the 4th edition of the conference, Jason Kasuto, Chairperson of the Economic Association of Namibia and Managing Director of Monasa Advisory & Associates, outlined the conference’s vision of using Namibia’s oil and gas resources to transform the country from scarcity to abundance “The ‘why’ of this conference is to transform scarcity into abundance for the lives of Namibians. Oil is not the point; oil is actually the how. Our people are the why. The National Upstream Local Content Policy, driven by the Office of the President, gives Namibia the force of national policy and is soon to be legislated, with Namibian employment maximised, Namibian suppliers prioritised, skills and technology transferred, and Namibian participation and, most importantly, financing at every layer.
The Economic Association of Namibia was built to drive economic development and thought leadership, bring policy to business, and always insist on inclusive law. The Namibia Oil and Gas Conference platform holds three non-negotiable values: broad access, local empowerment and industry development,” he stated. Furthermore, Hon. Kornelia Shilunga, Special Advisor and Head of the Upstream Petroleum Unit in the Office of the President of Namibia, highlighted the importance of looking beyond first oil and ensuring that Namibia’s petroleum resources deliver long-term benefits through job creation “As we look towards first oil, we must also look beyond first oil. The first barrel will be an important milestone, but it cannot be a destination. The real dividend must be reflected in jobs that are created, strong and viable businesses, improved infrastructure, technology transfer, skills development, increased government revenues, industrial growth, and improved opportunities for future generations. We must also ensure that petroleum revenues are managed prudently and transparently.
This requires strong institutions, sound governance, environmental responsibility, accountability, and long-term planning. And as legislators and policymakers, we have a responsibility to ensure that the development of Namibia’s petroleum resources is undertaken in a manner that is safe, responsible, commercially viable, and nationally beneficial. Distinguished guests, it is no longer a question of whether Namibia has oil,” she remarked. Speaking on Namibia’s preparedness for the emerging industry, Victoria Sibeya the Managing Director of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia highlighted the country’s transition into a new era following significant oil and gas discoveries “Namibia’s growth story has changed extensively. After decades of exploration, the country has entered a new era. Following a series of discoveries in Namibia, particularly in the Orange Basin, these discoveries, which have confirmed that Namibia has a working petroleum system, have convinced local investors to visit our country not for the weather, but for what lies beneath the waters of Namibia.
NAMCOR has a unique responsibility to ensure Namibian participation across the oil and gas value chain, through the exploration, appraisal, development and production of hydrocarbons, as well as participation in midstream and downstream activities, and eventually creating broader economic opportunities for the country. Our role is to build national capacity, safeguard national interests, create value, and provide opportunities for Namibians to participate in the petroleum sector,” she noted. Addressing the importance of responsible resource development, Travis Smithard, Chief Executive Officer of Rhino Resources emphasised the need to balance resource development with environmental sustainability and socio-economic growth
“The dividend this conference speaks about will not simply exist because we found hydrocarbons. It will come from government, industry and society at large coming together to define what is important for Namibia. We like local upliftment because local content creates an obligation for compliance, local upliftment creates capability, and capability within Namibia will create investment. Investment will create industry and opportunity. All of that will strengthen the industries surrounding oil and gas,” he noted. The technical and strategic programme explored key industry priorities, including upstream exploration and basin geoscience, deepwater project economics, field development, supply chain readiness, investment and partnership models, frontier exploration, financing and futureready energy infrastructure. Discussions also considered lessons from other emerging hydrocarbon provinces and approaches to structuring farm-ins, joint ventures and partnerships, while supplier workshops focused on strengthening Namibia’s domestic supply chain and ensuring that local businesses are better positioned to meet international industry standards and participate in future oil and gas projects. The Namibia Oil and Gas Conference 2026 concluded with a renewed call for collaboration and action to ensure that Namibia is not only recognised as an attractive global energy destination, but is equally prepared to translate its petroleum resources into jobs, businesses, skills, infrastructure, investment and sustainable prosperity for Namibians. As Namibia moves from decision to development and ultimately to dividend, the central objective remains clear: to ensure that the country’s petroleum resources contribute to jobs, businesses, skills, infrastructure, investment and sustainable prosperity for Namibians.