Africa-Press – Namibia. LANDLESS People’s Movement (LPM) parliamentarian Henny Seibeb has called on the government to consult the party and the //Kharas Regional Council on the discovery of oil in the Atlantic Ocean.
Seibeb was speaking in the National Assembly on Monday.
State-owned oil company Namcor on Monday announced a third oil discovery in Namibia’s Orange River Basin.
The light oil discovery was made by Namcor and partners Shell and QatarEnergy in the Jonker-1X deep-water exploration well located 270km offshore Namibia.
“However, we bemoan the fact that the regional council and local authorities in southern Namibia continue to be isolated from such oil talks and deal making,” Seibeb said.
He said the LPM, which represents the inhabitants of the //Kharas region, should be “duly consulted and accorded with such respect”.
Seibeb said there is a lot of secrecy and exclusion as far as oil discoveries are concerned.
Ministry of Mines and Energy spokesperson Andreas Simon said the ministry is currently busy with stakeholder consultation and public education and will continue with this during the current financial year and beyond.
“However, I’m trying to understand. It almost sounds as if we aren’t allowed to move ahead with work before consulting the LPM. If that’s the case, then I do not think it would be the right or fair approach,” Simon said.
He said the need to engage the LPM is just a matter of planning and discussion.
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