Namibia’s Cabinet has endorsed the nomination of upstream executive Victoria Sibeya as Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR), bringing the state oil company closer to appointing a permanent leader after more than two years of executive instability.
The endorsement paves the way for the NAMCOR Board to conclude the appointment process, with the company indicating that a formal announcement will be made once all governance procedures have been completed.
Secretary to Cabinet Emilia Mkusa confirmed that Cabinet had approved Sibeya’s nomination but said the final appointment remains the responsibility of the board.
“Kindly take note that Cabinet endorsed her nomination. The rest is left up to the Board. It will be best if you could consult the NAMCOR Board in this regard,” Mkusa told Namibia Mining & Energy.
NAMCOR spokesperson Utaara Hoveka said the recruitment process had been conducted jointly by the board and the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy and was nearing completion.
“This was a Board and Ministerial led process. Once the process is completely finalised, the Board will pronounce itself on its outcome soonest,” Hoveka said.
The appointment comes at a pivotal time for Namibia’s petroleum sector as international operators continue to appraise significant offshore discoveries in the Orange Basin and prepare for potential development decisions over the coming years.
A permanent chief executive is expected to play a central role in steering NAMCOR’s commercial strategy, strengthening partnerships with international oil companies and positioning the national oil company to participate in the country’s emerging upstream industry.
If confirmed, Sibeya will become the first substantive chief executive appointed since former Managing Director Immanuel Mulunga left the company, ending an extended period during which NAMCOR has been led by a succession of acting and interim executives.
Following Mulunga’s suspension in 2023 and the subsequent termination of his employment in August 2024, Ebson Uanguta served as Acting Managing Director from January 2024 until March 2025.
Sibeya was then appointed Acting Managing Director with effect from 1 April 2025 before being succeeded by Maureen Hinda-Mbuende, who served as Interim Managing Director until February 2026. Mtundeni Ndafyaalako has led the company in an acting capacity since March 2026 while the board completed its search for a permanent chief executive.
Sibeya currently serves as NAMCOR’s Executive for Upstream Exploration, overseeing the corporation’s exploration portfolio and supporting Namibia’s expanding hydrocarbon programme.
A geologist by training, she holds a Master’s degree in Geology from the University of Namibia, where her research focused on petroleum system analysis and seismic interpretation of the offshore Orange Basin.
Her appointment is expected to provide leadership continuity at a time when NAMCOR is seeking to strengthen its role in one of the world’s most closely watched frontier oil provinces, as exploration activity and appraisal drilling continue to reshape Namibia’s long-term energy outlook.
