Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo (Namibia energy ministry)
Namibian energy minister wants gas master plan
African nation eyes roadmap for associated gas, complicating IOCs’ oil exploration activities
Namibia wants to discuss a gas master plan with IOCs drilling oil exploration and appraisal wells that have struck substantial associated gas volumes as the African country seeks to reach first crude production before 2030, Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo said in an interview with Petroleum Economist in Abu Dhabi. Ever since discoveries of light oil by TotalEnergies and Shell in Namibia’s Orange Basin made headlines in 2022, IOCs drilling wells offshore have had to grapple with difficulties extracting oil due to significant associated gas volumes at depths that can exceed 3,000 metres. In January, Shell revealed it had taken a $400m write-off on discovered resources deemed “commerc
Also in this section
2 April 2026
Alongside a rapid continued build-out of renewables, China’s latest five-year plan stresses the value of domestic hydrocarbon production for energy security and calls for increased Russian gas imports
2 April 2026
The government is taking important steps to revive domestic production, lift investment and benefit from the geopolitical crisis even if more needs to be done in the longer term
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
