National Energy Compact will have a significant contribution in advancing the Mission 300.

Namibia inches ahead towards the Mission 300 -- a World Bank Group and African Development Bank-led initiative as it announces the launch of its National Energy Compact

A strategic framework to solidify the country's participation in the global initiative, the National Energy Compact will have a significant contribution in advancing the Mission 300 -- an initiative to make electricity accessible to 300 million people across sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.

Namibia's Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse, has introduced the compact that aims to reduce Namibia's reliance on imported electricity. 

Alongside Mission 300, the compact is also relevant to Namibia's Sixth National Development Plan, which aims to bring together 200,000 households. It will also be advancing the National Integrated Resource Plan that has been put in place to achieve 80% electricity self-sufficiency and 70% renewable energy penetration.

Namibia presently generates around 40% of its power domestically, with the remaining 60% sourced from neighboring countries. 

In the exploration and production front, which is also one of the primary backbone to Namibia's power industry, several players are announcing promising revenues. The latest instance for this is Reconnaissance Energy Africa which has reported a productive 2025 in its year-end corporate operational performance. “We have had an active and productive 2025 in which we advanced the Company on multiple strategic fronts. We completed drilling our second well in the Damara Fold Belt resulting in encountering of significant hydrocarbons...While recently visiting Namibia after our Kavango West 1X well results, the partnership group operated by ReconAfrica and including NAMCOR and BW Energy, had the privilege of meeting Her Excellency President Nandi-Ndaitwah. We are grateful for the President’s recognition of the significance of hydrocarbons encountered in the Kavango West well and how the partnership can help support onshore hydrocarbon development and the long-term energy supply for Namibia,” said Brian Reinsborough, President and CEO.

The partnership signifies the region's exploration expansion. (Image source: Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources)

Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has entered into a new oil and natural gas exploration agreement with British company Terra Petroleum 

The partnership signifies the region's exploration expansion and production optimisation ambitions as Terra Petroleum steps into the region for the first time.

The contract gives Terra Petroleum access to the Northwest Maghra concession of the Western Desert to drill three wells, leading up to initial investments of approximately US$6.5mn. Additionally, the contract also leaves scope for two-dimensional and three-dimensional seismic surveys at the concession area.

Speaking of the deal, Minister of Petroleum Karim Badawi said that the agreement stands testament to the growing interests of international companies towards the region and their willingness for investment. As it builds trust in the Egyptian petroleum sector's investment climate, the Ministry is actively addressing policies and developments to support an encouraging work environment for global investors, and accelerate oil exploration and production rates.

Players in Egypt has been experiencing big developments in the exploration and production front with Dana Petroleum being the latest example. It has recently made a significant gas discovery following the drilling of the North El-Basant 1 exploratory well in Egypt’s onshore Nile Delta. 

Richard Hall, CEO, Dana Gas, said, “The latest drilling success reinforces the value of our investment programme in Egypt and highlights the significant remaining potential within the Nile Delta. The North El Basant-6 result builds on the momentum of our earlier wells and supports our efforts to increase domestic gas supply and reserves. By increasing local gas production, the programme will help reduce Egypt’s reliance on imported LNG and fuel oil and is expected to generate more than one billion dollars in savings for the national economy over time."

The company will be conducting a production test on Kavango West 1X.

As Reconnaissance Energy Africa reports a productive 2025 in its year-end corporate operational performance, the company is preparing to conduct a well test in Damara Fold Belt offshore Namibia

“We are preparing to conduct a production test on Kavango West 1X, which will allow us to conduct a longer flow period and pressure buildup analysis to better calculate potential production rates and reserve estimates. Early planning suggests that we may test up to eight separate reservoir intervals of interest,” said Nick Steinsberger, Senior Vice President Drilling & Completions.

Unlike the usual process, the partners are prioritising production testing over a drill stem test to allow for more controlled testing of isolated intervals of interest. This way better addressed the operational challenges posed by a 2,000-m open hole section in adequately testing the entire gross Otavi reservoir at one time.

Production casing and testing equipment are being sourced before testing operations can be commenced in the first quarter of 2026. In a span of roughly two months, up to eight zones of interest will be evaluated. 

Wireline logging from the Huttenberg and Elandshoek formations within the Upper Otavi Group have also indicated promising results. Well analysis from the Elandshoek sections shows 81 m of hydrocarbon fluorescence found in cuttings, a clear indicator of hydrocarbons. Indications of fracturing were pervasive based on well logs.

Also, rapid increases in gas readings after drilling connections indicated hydrocarbons flowing actively towards the wellbore.

“We have had an active and productive 2025 in which we advanced the Company on multiple strategic fronts. We completed drilling our second well in the Damara Fold Belt resulting in encountering of significant hydrocarbons, extended our acreage position into Angola at a low cost of entry and expanded our asset portfolio into offshore Gabon to help balance our investment risk profile. These actions set the Company up for several important milestones in 2026.

We are preparing for the production test at Kavango West 1X next year after only our second exploration well drilled in the Damara Fold Belt, a unique position to be in when exploring a new basin. Our teams are working on procuring the equipment needed for this test which is expected to commence operations by the end of the first quarter of 2026.

While recently visiting Namibia after our Kavango West 1X well results, the partnership group operated by ReconAfrica and including NAMCOR and BW Energy, had the privilege of meeting Her Excellency President Nandi-Ndaitwah. We are grateful for the President’s recognition of the significance of hydrocarbons encountered in the Kavango West well and how the partnership can help support onshore hydrocarbon development and the long-term energy supply for Namibia,” said Brian Reinsborough, President and CEO.

NUPRC is aiming for a transparent licensing round. (Image source: NUPRC)

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has pledged to make sure that the 2025 Licensing Round is conducted with utmost transparency 

The Commission is dedicated to eliminating corruption from the process as its Chief Executive, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, announced that it is a danger to Nigeria's growth and prosperity, while speaking at the International Anti-Corruption Day.

According to him, unchecked corruption can have devastating effects on the oil and gas sector because of the high stakes and substantial revenues involved. One of the most effective ways that the Commission has been addressing this is by digitalising processes to replace bureaucratic handling.

“The most compelling illustration of this reality was the Nigeria 2024 Licensing Round. For the first time in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector, bid submissions were conducted fully online; commercial bidding was digital and real-time.

“Evaluation processes were automated, measurable, and auditable; human interference was deliberately minimised to near-zero levels. The outcome was a bidding exercise governed by competence instead of connection, process instead of persuasion, and merit instead of influence.

“This achievement did not go unnoticed. The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) formally commended the process, verifying that the Nigeria 2024 Licensing Round was conducted free of corruption and procedural compromise,” said Komolafe. 

He also called the Nigerian youth to participate in the upcoming licensing round, acknowledging their significance in advancing the country's petroleum sector. 

“That is why preparations for the Nigeria 2025 Licensing Round continue under the same digital framework, unchanged and uncompromised: This continuity answers a fundamental question asked by young Nigerians, which is: Is good governance temporary or permanent? Our response is clear. Integrity at the Commission is not episodic but institutional,” he said.

Speaking of NUPRC's role in Nigeria’s development as the regulator of the upstream petroleum sector, retired appeal court justice Oludotun Adebola Adefope-Okojie said, “The NUPRC regulates the wealth of Nigeria because oil accounts for over 80% of Nigeria’s FX and 70% of government revenue. It is a gatekeeper of Nigeria’s wealth. The Commission doesn’t just process documents but destiny. With this great duty comes great responsibility.”

“With the recent announcement of the 2025 licensing round, there is an opportunity for fresh players to step forward and demonstrate their capability. The time for the youth is now. Building on the success of the 2024 licensing round, I believe it will be transparent where the younger generation, who are frustrated, will be given more opportunities to participate in the award of licenses and leases.

“I believe it should be a deliberate policy; we need to give youths a chance to participate. They have done this in the tech space. They have produced the top unicorns in Africa. They can bring in the right partners to help Nigeria’s goal of increasing oil production,” she added.