Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo has affirmed that all resources, both below and above the surface—including those on the continental shelf and within Namibia’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone—are state-owned unless lawfully claimed otherwise.
His statement aimed to clarify ownership and management rights, emphasising the government’s authority to regulate these resources.
“As per Article 100 of the Namibian Constitution, let us not be distracted by alternative interpretations. The resources are ours, and we have the right to decide how to share them with those investing in their exploitation,” he said.
Alweendo acknowledged Namibia’s rich natural resources but noted that this wealth is not always reflected in the lives of its citizens.
“We envision a more dynamic and complex economy supported by our natural resources. The government is committed to developing this sector to build a resilient, sustainable, and diversified economy,” the Mines and Energy minister said.
He pointed out that current oil findings are discoveries rather than fully operational commercial entities.
He urged for clarity in communication and expectations as these discoveries are further developed.
“The companies responsible for these discoveries are now analysing data to determine the best approach for translating them into commercially viable production. Communities of interest must understand this process,” he said.
This comes as Namibia has introduced a draft National Upstream Petroleum Local Content Policy which outlines a pathway for Namibian citizens and companies to benefit from the country’s oil and gas resources.
According to Mines and Energy ministry, the end goal of local content policy is to spread the wealth generated by the natural resources among Namibians, develop the skills of the Namibian people in oil and gas professions, and promote the establishment of Namibian oil and gas businesses.
The Southern African country, which is yet to produce any oil or gas, has become a global exploration hotspot after offshore discoveries by TotalEnergies and Shell, and wants to accelerate the milestone of first output.
