Namibia’s High Court has dismissed the appeal of the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), thereby confirming a decision by the Editors’ Forum of Namibia (EFN) and the media ombudsman regarding a 2021 broadcast. The court concluded that NBC breached its journalistic duty of balance in a segment featuring Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd (ReconAfrica), a Canadian company engaged in onshore oil exploration in the northeast of the country.
The disputed report, aired in March 2021, highlighted ReconAfrica’s activities in the Kavango Basin, under exploration licence PEL 73, which spans approximately 25,000 km² near the Okavango Delta. The broadcast was challenged for being overly favourable to the company. In 2022, the EFN complaints committee found the segment lacked sufficient pluralism, although no evidence of paid content was established.
ReconAfrica under scrutiny amid intensified exploration activity
The ruling comes as oil exploration activities accelerate across Namibia. Several major operators, including TotalEnergies, Shell, Galp and BW Energy, are conducting offshore campaigns targeting the Venus, Graff and Mopane discoveries. ReconAfrica has continued its onshore exploration efforts in the Damara Fold Belt, where crude oil indicators were identified earlier this year.
Final investment decisions are targeted from 2025 onwards. This heightened pace has reinforced the need for robust regulation, particularly regarding information transparency and permitting compliance.
Rising calls for stricter governance in the oil sector
The sector’s rapid development has prompted several local organisations, including the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), to reiterate calls for increased transparency. Demands include full disclosure of oil contracts and Namibia’s accession to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
ReconAfrica has been involved in multiple controversies in recent years, some of which were the subject of a 2025 parliamentary commission. The report revealed the company initiated certain drilling operations without all required regulatory permits, particularly concerning water usage.
Additional complaints have been filed by communities near the Kavango Basin, citing a lack of consultation and concerns about environmental impacts. According to Transparency International, Namibia scored 49/100 in the 2023 global Corruption Perceptions Index.
