Namibia’s offshore oil and gas industry is set for significant growth in 2025, driven by new licensing opportunities and an uptick in drilling activities, Petroleum Commissioner Maggy Shino announced during a webinar hosted by the African Energy Chamber, Wood Mackenzie and Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy. The move is set to attract fresh investment as the country seeks to position itself as a promising oil frontier.

Shino said that available acreage spans deepwater, ultra-deepwater and shallow-water environments.

Active petroleum licenses and petroleum license application in Namibia. Source: Namibia Mines and Energy

Development is already accelerating on two of Namibia’s most significant discoveries. TotalEnergies’ Venus project in Block 2913B remains on track for a final investment decision (FID) in 2026, with new data confirming better density and permeability compared to surrounding blocks. On Galp’s Mopane discovery, Shino revealed that 3,500 km² of high-density seismic data were collected this week to refine volume estimates and advance the project toward FID.

On Shell’s PEL 39 discovery—where the company recently wrote down $400 million—the Commissioner said Shell and its partners are analyzing data from the nine wells drilled so far to “ensure we have designed a pathway to development” and to determine the next steps.

Namibia’s offshore basin remains vastly underexplored, despite its enormous scale—220,000 square kilometers of offshore license acreage.

Drilling activity in Namibia is set to ramp up in 2025, with seven wells expected this year alone. BW Energy plans to drill at the Kharas prospect within the Kudu license, while Rhino Resources awaits results from two high-impact wells in PEL 85. In South Africa’s Orange Basin, TotalEnergies is expected to drill in Block 3B/4B, and Shell may drill in an ultra-deepwater block near the maritime boundary with Namibia.

As Namibia advances toward first oil production, the government is committed to ensuring that petroleum discoveries translate into long-term economic benefits for the nation.