Namibia is looking to Algeria’s oil and gas industry for lessons on strengthening local ownership, skills and participation across the petroleum value chain as it prepares to develop its emerging offshore resources.
A Namibian delegation attending the 14th African & Mediterranean Energy & Hydrogen Exhibition and Conference (NAPEC 2026) in Oran, Algeria, said the country wants to learn from Algeria’s experience in building domestic capabilities across both upstream and downstream operations.
The delegation is led by Kornelia Shilunga, Head and Special Adviser of the Upstream Petroleum Unit in the Office of the President, alongside Namibia’s Ambassador to Algeria, Dr Samuel Mbambo.
Mbambo said Algeria had developed domestic capabilities across the petroleum value chain, including technical expertise, governance and regulatory frameworks, providing lessons for Namibia as it seeks to build its own oil and gas industry.
He said Namibia wants to draw from the Algerian model as it prepares to become an oil and gas producer, with a focus on ensuring that the development of the sector translates into greater domestic participation.
Shilunga said Namibia intends to build a self-reliant petroleum sector from the ground up and strengthen its ability to retain strategic ownership of its energy value chain.
She said the delegation is using NAPEC 2026 to learn directly from Algeria’s experience and identify approaches that could support Namibia’s own energy-sector development.
The focus comes as Namibia works to strengthen local content, skills transfer, upstream governance and regulatory frameworks, while developing the infrastructure required to support the petroleum industry.
Namibia is also seeking to attract investment into its energy sector while ensuring that domestic capabilities develop alongside foreign participation.
The country is pursuing an “energy addition” approach that envisages the development of oil and gas alongside renewable energy, green hydrogen and associated industrial value chains.
Shilunga and Mbambo attended the official opening of NAPEC 2026 alongside Algerian government and energy-sector representatives, including senior officials from Sonatrach and the National Agency for the Valorisation of Hydrocarbon Resources.
The conference is focused on energy security, affordability and decarbonisation, bringing together governments, investors and energy companies to discuss hydrocarbons, renewable energy, hydrogen and the future energy mix.
