Shell is preparing to launch a new drilling campaign in Petroleum Exploration Licence 39 (PEL39) offshore Namibia, the company’s country chair in Namibia, Eduardo Rodriguez, said in a LinkedIn post on Thursday.
BW Energy has confirmed the presence of liquid hydrocarbons in the Kudu license area in Orange basin offshore Namibia.
The UK-based energy giant, which is a co-venturer in the exploration license via its 50/50 company with Italy’s Eni, Azule Energy, can confirm the preliminary results of the Volans-1X exploration well, as reported by operator Rhino Resources earlier this month.
The partnership will align academic and industrial training with international standards, offering Namibian students, job seekers, and service providers access to education, mentorship, and employment opportunities. The initiative aims to strengthen local capacity across technical disciplines including engineering, fabrication, operations, and project management, supporting the development of Namibia’s offshore energy resources.
Rhino Resources Namibia Ltd. has confirmed a significant gas condensate discovery at the Volans-1X exploration well in Block 2914A, offshore Namibia’s Orange basin. The find represents the company’s third consecutive hydrocarbon discovery on Petroleum Exploration License 85 (PEL 85), where Rhino holds a 42.5% operating interest.
RWE had signed a preliminary MoU in 2022 to take delivery of 300,000 tonnes per year (tpy) of green ammonia starting from Hyphen’s planned operational startup in 2027, but has pulled back in a recalibration of its investment priorities. RWE’s MoU with Hyphen did not include a binding offtake agreement.
The funding, which falls under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, is aimed at boosting Namibia’s green hydrogen and ammonia production, as well as infrastructure such as transport networks, electricity grids, port facilities and vocational training.
The company increased its ownership in WestOil Limited to 48.5%, giving it a 33.95% indirect working interest in Block 2712A, a 5,484 km² license in the basin’s core. The block sits adjacent to acreage held by Chevron and Pan Continental, strategically positioning Oregen within a high-potential exploration corridor.
“We think that the Kavango West 1X prospect represents our best opportunity in the Damara Fold Belt to unlock the potential of this play, and we look forward to reporting results, expected before year-end 2025,” said ReconAfrica president and CEO Brian Reinsborough.
Namibia is aiming to raise local content and carried participation in the oil and gas sector from 10 percent to 15 percent by 2030, as the country prepares to leverage its petroleum discoveries for national development. In the next five years, the government of Namibia plans to increase carried participation from 10% to 15%.