Africa-Press – Namibia. The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) has revealed that the country could produce more than 2.5 million tonnes of natural gas per year, based on early stage assessments of recent discoveries made since 2022.
Speaking during a panel discussion on gas monetisation strategies at the Namibia International Energy Conference on 24 April, Mtundeni Ndafyaalako, executive of upstream development and production at Namcor, outlined a dual-pronged approach adopted by the corporation.
The first pillar focuses on leveraging legislative frameworks to enable coordinated infrastructure development, fostering collaboration among operators.
The second emphasises expanding exploration activities to unlock further resources.
“We have launched a gas monetisation strategy project to support both government and industry on how best to commercialise gas.
“From our appraisals, we now have a clearer picture of production potential and various applications,” Ndafyaalako said, noting that the strategy is designed to attract new players and investment by clarifying monetisation pathways.
Deputy general manager at BW Kudu Manfriedt Muundjua reinforced the importance of integrating four pillars of local content – training, skills transfer, local procurement and local ownership – into the broader gas development framework.
Muundjua said BW Kudu is placing Namibian interns in every technical role currently held by international staff, supporting long-term local capacity building.
He also emphasised the urgent need for downstream investment and infrastructure development.
“We already have a downstream investment partner lined up to join us once production at Kudu begins.”
He said the drilling of additional wells is scheduled to begin in October, supporting Namcor’s emphasis on continued exploration to identify new reserves.
Paul Eardley-Taylor, the head of oil and gas coverage for southern Africa at Standard Bank, highlighted the need for a “shadow infrastructure” – potentially led by public-private partnerships – in southern Namibia to address energy shortages through gas utilisation.
He said oil revenues should be strategically directed towards financing gas infrastructure and fostering local energy markets.
Eardley-Taylor also pointed to the broader regional opportunity, suggesting that Namibia could assume a role once held by South Africa as the region’s primary energy supplier, particularly as critical mineral projects are willing to pay a premium for stable power supply.
Meanwhile, research director for upstream at Wood Mackenzie Ian Thom expressed confidence that Namibia could implement a comprehensive gas master plan within the next nine months.
With only 59% of the population currently connected to the electricity grid, Thom underscored the potential of gas to dramatically increase energy access across residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
“Namibia could generate more value by exporting electricity rather than raw gas, given the limited infrastructure for gas exports and the high costs associated with building it,” he says.
Looking ahead, the upcoming African Energy Week, set to take place from 29 September to 3 October in Cape Town – will spotlight Namibia’s gas developments and broader African opportunities.
The event will feature panel discussions, project showcases, deal signings and high-level networking sessions that connect African energy projects with global investors.
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