Natangwe Ithete, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industrialization, Mines and Energy of Namibia, has joined the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference – the country’s leading industry event – as a keynote speaker. Minister Ithete’s participation comes at a time when Namibia is preparing for first oil production in 2029 and is expected to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the Southern African nations.
Emerging as one of Africa’s most interesting frontier oil markets, Namibia has seen increased offshore investment in recent years, following a series of major discoveries made by international oil companies. TotalEnergies is awaiting a final investment decision for the Venus field in 2026, with a field development plan expected to be presented by the company this month. Galp confirmed a significant oil discovery at the Mopane-3X well in February 2025 and is currently in discussions with potential partners to advance the development of its offshore discoveries. In the Walvis basin, Chevron is preparing to drill a new exploration well. With these projects, Namibia is expected to join the group of African oil producers, creating significant opportunities for collaboration and cross-border trade.
Within this growth framework, Namibia has been working in recent months to strengthen ties with Angola, particularly in the areas of oil and gas, infrastructure, and logistics. A meeting held between Namibia’s President, Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, and Angola’s President, João Lourenço, in May 2025 – the first external working visit by Namibia’s President since taking office in March 2025 – highlighted priority areas for collaboration. During the visit, President João Lourenço committed to supporting Namibia as it advances offshore oil development in the Orange Basin, leveraging historical ties to drive skills development and training in the sector. The visit follows the signing of a tripartite agreement in 2024 between the Namibian Port Authority and the respective national oil companies of Angola and Namibia – Sonangol and NAMCOR. The agreement outlines plans to establish an integrated logistics base in Namibia to support future oil and gas development and trade.
Looking ahead, enhanced cooperation between the two countries is expected to extend beyond commercial opportunities. Notably, there are potential collaborations in onshore exploration and production, particularly in the exploration areas of the Damara Fold Belt and the Rift basin – situated along the border between Namibia and Angola. In April 2025, the National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels, Angola’s upstream sector regulator, signed a memorandum of understanding with exploration and production company ReconAfrica for joint exploration of the Etosha-Okavango basin. The agreement marks ReconAfrica’s entry into Angola, adding 5.2 million acres of Angolan area to the company’s 6.3 million acre portfolio in Namibia. Currently, ReconAfrica is preparing to drill Prospect 1 – called the Kavango West 1X well – in Namibia, following positive results from the Naingopo well in January 2025. Future discoveries in Namibia and Angola could open cross-border development opportunities, underlining the role of bilateral cooperation.
During AOG 2025, Minister Ithete is expected to share deeper insights into the value that cross-border collaborations play in Southern Africa’s oil and gas sector. Minister Ithete’s participation reflects a broader commitment by Namibia’s government to work closely with Angola to promote oil and gas development, creating new opportunities for regional investment, trade, and business.
