Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Minister of Environment and Tourism, Indileni Daniel, has voiced her support for placing petroleum oversight under the Presidency, stressing that the sector requires supervision at the highest executive level to ensure coordinated and decisive leadership.
“It is very critical and important that this Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill resorts under the Presidency because petroleum is a strategic national resource that directly affects national security, economic stability and foreign relations. Such a critical sector requires oversight from the highest executive level to ensure coordinated and decisive leadership,” Daniel said.
She made the remarks in Parliament while outlining her position on the Petroleum Exploration and Production Amendment Bill. According to Daniel, maintaining petroleum oversight under the Presidency would enhance policy coordination, fast-track major investment decisions and bolster investor confidence by providing clear and stable authority.
Daniel added that retaining petroleum oversight under the Presidency would also ensure direct political accountability, as the President is constitutionally mandated to protect national resources on behalf of the people.
“This is not about centralising power, but about safeguarding national interest, ensuring efficiency, and providing strong leadership in managing a resource that will shape the country’s future. The Constitution already places executive authority in the Office of the President. Under Article 30, the President is established as both Head of State and Head of Government. This means the highest executive responsibility for governing Namibia rests in that office,” Daniel said.
The minister drew attention to Article 32 of the Namibian Constitution, noting that it grants the President the power to direct and coordinate the work of government, appoint ministers and oversee their functions, represent Namibia internationally, negotiate and conclude agreements, as well as ensure that laws are implemented and national interests are protected.
“Petroleum exploration and production involve all of these functions that I mentioned. Oil and gas projects require: International negotiations with multinational companies, Coordination between ministries – Finance, Environment, Energy, Justice; Strategic economic planning; and Protection of national resources,” Daniel said.
She added that placing petroleum oversight under the Presidency is neither unconstitutional nor unusual, and reaffirmed her strong support for the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill.
“Placing petroleum oversight under the Presidency is not unconstitutional or unusual, it is consistent with Articles 30 and 32, which already vests executive authority and coordination powers in the President. In other words, the Amendment Bill does not create new power outside the Constitution. It simply aligns a strategic national sector with the office that already holds executive responsibility under the Constitution. That is why I strongly support the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill,” Daniel added.
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