Namibia’s energy sector must solve ports puzzle

A shortage of options for the development of port infrastructure to service oil and gas majors is a stumbling block the country needs to overcome to fulfil its potential

TotalEnergies, Shell and Portugal’s Galp have made major discoveries offshore Namibia since 2022, but some of the initial euphoria has worn off, with Shell writing down the value of its lease in the Orange Basin by $400m in January this year. Still, Galp said in April that its Mopane discovery off the southern coast holds contingent resources of at least 875m boe, with further upward revisions expected. An additional discovery of light oil was confirmed by privately owned South African company Rhino Resources in April. TotalEnergies, meanwhile, may take FID on its Venus field by early 2026. It is unclear how the country’s ports would be able to service large-scale production. Capacity is lim