BW Energy has announced plans to drill an appraisal well at the Kharas Prospect within the Kudu licence in the third quarter of 2025.
The well according to the company, will target the offshore Block 2814A (PPL003) in southern Namibia, further advancing the company’s exploration activities.
“BW Energy has sanctioned the drilling of an appraisal well targeting the Kharas Prospect north-west in the Kudu licence with planned start-up of drilling in the third quarter of 2025,” the company’s annual report for the year ended 2024 stated.
As part of the preparation process, BW Energy has initiated the environmental permitting process for the drilling activities. Its subsidiary, BW Kudu, appointed SLR Consulting as the Environmental Assessment Practitioner under Namibia’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (2012). SLR Consulting coordinated the Scoping process, with the Scoping Report submitted to the Competent Authority in late October 2024.
BW Energy said due to the lengthy lead times, specialist studies for the full Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) began in the fourth quarter of 2024 and if the government approves the Final Scoping Report, the Final ESIA Report is expected to be submitted in the first quarter of 2025.
“During the reporting period BW Kudu initiated the environmental permitting process for the proposed appraisal (well drilling) activities in Block 2814A (PPL003) offshore southern Namibia. SLR Consulting was appointed as the Environmental Assessment Practitioner under the Namibian EIA Regulations (2012) to coordinate the Scoping process and associated report,” the report confirmed.
Alongside the drilling efforts, BW Energy is engaging with Namibian authorities and the local power company to advance the Kudu gas-to-power project, which is expected to be a significant development for Namibia’s energy sector.
“The project has the potential to transform Namibia’s power situation and has wide local stakeholder support, including political and regulatory bodies,” the report noted.
Additionally, in January 2025, the Namibian Ministry of Mines and Energy, along with Namcor Exploration and Production Pty Ltd, approved the transfer of a 20% working interest in PEL 73 from ReconAfrica to BW Energy.
