Petrofund has been awarded the Energy Sector Impact Award at the Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) 2026, organisers said, recognising its contribution to training and education in the country’s energy industry.
The organisation was honoured for strengthening local capacity through scholarships, training programmes and strategic partnerships aimed at increasing Namibian participation in the oil and gas sector.
Victoria Sibeya of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) received the Women in Energy Leadership Award for her contribution to the sector and efforts to advance female participation within the industry, according to conference organisers.
The conference also conferred the Chevron Lifetime Achievement Award on Brazilian geologist Dr Marcio Mello in recognition of his long-standing contribution to the global energy sector and Namibia’s upstream development.
Mello, Founder of High Resolution Technology & Petroleum Services (HRT), is widely credited with helping shape early frontier exploration strategies, including in Namibia. His company was among the first to invest in offshore exploration in the country, generating geological data that informed subsequent discoveries.
He has played a key role in applying Brazil’s deepwater exploration experience to Namibia’s offshore basins, drawing geological parallels between the two regions and supporting early industry confidence in the country’s hydrocarbon potential.
According to the NIEC, in Namibia, Mello is regarded as a pioneer whose technical input and early investment helped lay the foundation for the country’s current momentum in oil and gas exploration.
