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%.
Portugal’s Galp Energia has begun receiving offers for its massive Mopane oil discovery off Namibia’s coast, signaling that one of Africa’s most promising new hydrocarbon frontiers could be edging closer to commercial production. The company told investors earlier this month it’s in advanced talks with potential buyers and expects to announce a sale later this year. Galp controls an 80% stake in Mopane and, according to Bloomberg, is preparing for a development that could involve two floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units, each pumping around 120,000 barrels a day.
BW Energy, together with NAMCOR E&P, has contracted Odfjell’s Deepsea Mira semisubmersible rig for the drilling of the Kharas appraisal well on the Kudu license (PPL003) offshore Namibia in the Orange Basin, scheduled for the second half of 2025.
“The government recognizes the complexities and high costs associated with the development of the Venus oil field by TotalEnergies,” Kornelia Shilunga, special adviser and head of upstream petroleum unit in the Namibian Presidency, said in a reply to questions.
Canada’s Stamper Oil & Gas will acquire BISP Exploration for an indirect stake in five offshore Namibian blocks, Stamper said on Wednesday.