Namibia

Shell pursues ambitions in the Orange Basin despite court ruling

Shell has filed an appeal against the cancellation of its environmental authorisation for Block 5/6/7 off the South African coast, aiming to continue exploration in a geologically strategic offshore zone.

Galp aims to secure partner for Namibia’s Mopane field by end of 2025

Portuguese energy group Galp plans to finalise a strategic partnership for its offshore oil project Mopane in Namibia before the end of the year.

Azule Energy confirms gas condensate discovery at Volans-1X well in Namibia

The Volans-1X exploration well revealed a 26-metre productive zone in the Orange Basin, marking another hydrocarbon find for Azule Energy partners in 2025.
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Namibia High Court confirms ethical breach by NBC in ReconAfrica case

A ruling by Namibia's High Court upheld the media regulator’s decision that the state broadcaster NBC failed to ensure balance in its coverage of ReconAfrica’s oil operations.

Namibia and McDermott join forces to train future oil workforce

The Namibian government signed an agreement with McDermott to strengthen local skills in offshore engineering and operations, aiming to increase oil sector local content to 15% by 2030.

Sintana Energy acquires Challenger Energy to strengthen offshore assets in Africa

Canada’s Sintana Energy acquires Challenger Energy in a $61mn all-share deal, targeting offshore exploration in Namibia and Uruguay. The move highlights growing consolidation among independent oil exploration firms.
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Chevron appoints former TotalEnergies executive to lead African exploration

US-based Chevron appoints Kevin McLachlan, a veteran of TotalEnergies, as its global head of exploration, in a strategic move targeting Nigeria, Angola and Namibia.

McDermott signs strategic partnership with PETROFUND to train Namibia’s energy workforce

McDermott has signed a memorandum of understanding with PETROFUND to launch technical training programmes aimed at strengthening local skills in Namibia’s oil and gas sector.

Mining mergers in Africa: groups strengthen their position on critical metals

Driven by growing demand for strategic metals, mining mergers and acquisitions in Africa are accelerating, consolidating local players while exposing them to a more complex legal and regulatory environment.
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ReconAfrica advances drilling of Kavango West 1X well in Namibia

Reconnaissance Energy Africa continues drilling its Kavango West 1X exploration well with plans to enter the Otavi reservoir in October and reach total depth by the end of November.

Sweden lifts uranium mining ban to revive nuclear industry

Stockholm plans to restart uranium extraction by lifting the 2018 ban, aiming to secure strategic supply chains and support domestic nuclear electricity production.

South African court blocks TotalEnergies oil project off Cape coast

The South African judiciary has revoked TotalEnergies’ authorization to explore a 10,000 km² offshore block, forcing the group into a new procedure that includes a public consultation.
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BW Energy secures the Deepsea Mira rig for drilling the Kudu well in Namibia

BW Energy and NAMCOR E&P announce the engagement of the Deepsea Mira rig for drilling the Kharas appraisal well on the Kudu field, offshore Namibia, with a campaign scheduled for the second half of 2025.

SEGULA Technologies accelerates its growth in Africa with a new office in South Africa

SEGULA Technologies opens an office in Cape Town, strengthening its presence in the African market and targeting expansion in energy, rail, and automotive sectors, in partnership with South African industrial firm AllWeld.

Sierra Leone launches extensive offshore oil exploration with 60 potential blocks

Sierra Leone relaunches an ambitious offshore exploration campaign, using a 3D seismic survey to evaluate up to 60 potential oil blocks before opening a new licensing round as early as next October.
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NamPower launches $90.3mn solar power plant to secure Namibian energy

Namibia begins construction of its largest solar plant, Sores|Gaib, aiming to reduce dependence on energy imports by leveraging its solar potential, considered among the highest globally according to the World Bank.

ExxonMobil tops upstream explorer ranking according to Wood Mackenzie

ExxonMobil has been named the most admired upstream exploration company in Wood Mackenzie’s latest annual survey, recognised for its performance in Guyana and its ability to open new resource frontiers.

Petrobras enters exclusive talks for nine offshore blocks in Côte d’Ivoire

The Brazilian oil group secured approval from Abidjan to begin negotiations for exploring nine deepwater blocks as part of its business partnerships strategy in Africa.
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Namibia appoints former Chevron executive to lead its oil strategy

Carlo McLeod joins the new presidential unit dedicated to hydrocarbons as Namibia centralises oil sector governance under the head of state.

Africa Oil doubles production with Prime and issues $25mn dividend

Africa Oil completed the integration of Prime, doubling its production and reserves, while declaring a second quarterly dividend of $25mn supported by strong cash generation.

Namibia: A 20 MW Solar Plant Without State Guarantees for an Innovative Energy Model

Solarcentury Africa and Sino Energy launch a pioneering solar project in Namibia without long-term purchase agreements, marking a significant advancement for renewable energy in Southern Africa.

Galp’s New Drilling Campaign: A Bold Bet in Namibia’s Orange Basin

Galp has launched a new drilling phase to assess the potential of Mopane, off the coast of Namibia, marking a turning point for the development of what could become the country’s largest oil discovery.

Supermajors Vie for Stake in Galp’s Massive Mopane Oil Discovery in Namibia

The world's largest oil companies are competing to secure a share of Galp's significant Mopane oil discovery in Namibia's Orange Basin, estimated at 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent.
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Petrobras expands in Africa: New opportunities in Namibia and Angola

After a temporary withdrawal, Petrobras is reinvesting in Africa with key holdings in São Tomé and Príncipe, and plans additional projects in Namibia and Angola, thus strengthening its position in the African oil market.

TotalEnergies targets production of 220,000 barrels/day in Suriname

TotalEnergies launches the development of the Gran Morgu field offshore Suriname. An FPSO will be installed, with discussions underway to integrate Petrobras into the project.

NamPower: 100 MW solar power plant contract with two Chinese firms

NamPower joins forces with China Jiangxi International and Chint New Energy to build a 100 MW solar power plant in Namibia, financed mainly by the KfW bank.
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ExxonMobil withdraws from acquisition of Galp Energia’s Namibian oil block

ExxonMobil abandons its plan to buy 40% of the Mopane offshore field in Namibia from Galp Energia, leaving other companies in the running for this strategic stake.

Namibia: ReconAfrica signs strategic agreement with BW Energy

ReconAfrica is moving ahead with exploration of the PEL 73 block in northeast Namibia, with a new agreement to sell a 20% interest to BW Energy for USD 22 million and a drilling program underway.

South Africa faces major challenges in securing its gas imports

South Africa is at a decisive turning point in its energy transition, facing complex challenges to secure its natural gas supply and ensure the stability of its energy sector.
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Karpowership invests USD 1 billion in LNG power for Southern Africa

Karpowership allocates $1 billion to convert LNG into electricity in Mozambique, strengthening the Southern African energy grid.

Petrobras joins forces with Galp for the Mopane Block in Namibia

Petrobras, the Brazilian oil company, joins forces with a partner to acquire a 40% stake in Galp's Mopane block in Namibia, with the aim of strengthening its reserves.

Galp Energia reports improved quarterly results

Galp Energia reported a 16% rise in second-quarter adjusted net income, despite a 9% reduction in hydrocarbon production.
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TotalEnergies withdraws from key South African gas field

TotalEnergies has announced its withdrawal from the 11B/12B offshore gas field, posing a challenge to South Africa's energy ambitions.

Offshore drilling failure for Equinor in Argentina

Equinor's first offshore well in Argentina, Argerich-1, showed no clear sign of hydrocarbons. In-depth analyses will be carried out over the coming months to assess the area's potential.

South African Court of Appeal relaunches Shell exploration on the Wild Coast

The South African Court of Appeal overturns an earlier decision, allowing Shell and other oil companies to resume offshore exploration on the Wild Coast, subject to further public consultation.
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Galp Energia sells a 10% stake in projects in Mozambique

Portuguese oil and gas group Galp Energia has signed an agreement to sell a 10% stake in natural gas exploration projects in Mozambique to Abu Dhabi oil company Adnoc for 600 million euros.

Namibia: grid modernization to integrate renewable energies

The World Bank grants a $138.5 million loan to modernize Namibia's power grid with a view to integrating renewable energies.

Worldwide expansion of green hydrogen and ammonia projects

Worldwide, green hydrogen projects are multiplying. Hygenco is working with Tata Steel to develop a green hydrogen and ammonia project at the Gopalpur Industrial Park in India. The first phase aims to start production in December 2026.
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Rising demand for 6th and 7th generation offshore platforms

The offshore drilling industry is experiencing strong demand for its 6th and 7th generation platforms, despite a slight drop in new contracts signed.

Galp Energia: Sharp rise in first-quarter profits

Galp Energia announces a 35% increase in first-quarter 2024 earnings, building on the momentum of record profits in 2023.