The Namibian Government has expressed satisfaction with Shell’s continued commitment to offshore oil exploration, as President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah hosted a high-level delegation from the oil major amid intensifying activity in the Orange Basin.
The delegation, led by Shell International Executive Vice President for Exploration, Strategy and Portfolio for Integrated Gas and Upstream Eugene Okpere, met the President to discuss ongoing operations and future plans in Namibia’s upstream sector.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the partnership with Shell must be strengthened through mutual trust and shared interests to ensure long-term success and tangible benefits for the country.
Okpere welcomed the engagement and commended the Namibian Government for progress made in developing the sector, adding that recent developments have reinforced confidence in Namibia’s oil potential.
The meeting marks the second engagement between Shell and the Presidency in less than a year, following a similar meeting held in July.
It comes as Shell has launched a new drilling campaign in Petroleum Exploration Licence 39 (PEL 39) offshore Namibia, as exploration activity in the Orange Basin continues to gain momentum.
The campaign is being carried out in partnership with QatarEnergy and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR). Shell holds a 45% operating stake in the licence, alongside QatarEnergy with 45% and NAMCOR with 10%.
PEL 39 covers approximately 12,000 square kilometres in the Orange Basin, about 230 kilometres off Namibia’s southern coast near Oranjemund.
The latest drilling programme follows several exploration and appraisal wells undertaken by the joint venture over the past three years, as operators continue to assess the basin’s petroleum potential.
Shell has contracted the Deepsea Mira drilling unit for the campaign. The rig is operated by Odfjell Drilling and owned by Northern Ocean Ltd.
