Rhino Resources has commited to responsible oil and gas development in Namibia, with ambitions to become the first joint venture to reach oil production in the Orange Basin.
Delivering the keynote address at the third Namibia Oil & Gas Conference (NOGC), attended by more than 1,100 delegates and 73 exhibitors, Rhino Resources Chief Executive Officer, Travis Smithard, said the company’s ambition was to balance business priorities with social responsibility.
“We are not here to simply extract oil and gas – we are here to unlock and repatriate value to Namibia’s people. Our goal is to set new industry standards – balancing business imperatives with corporate citizenship… not just in barrels and GDP, but in dignity, opportunity, and shared prosperity,” Smithard said.
Rhino Resources is the operator of exploration licence PEL85, in partnership with NAMCOR, Azule Energy and Korres Investment. According to Smithard, the collaboration is “built on a shared belief in the region’s potential” and aimed at delivering benefits for both Namibia’s economy and its citizens.
The company is currently drilling the Volans IX exploration well, which Smithard said would “strategically advance the understanding of PEL85’s potential”, following earlier discoveries. These included the Capricornus IX light oil find, which flowed at 11,000 barrels per day on test, and the Sagittarius IX well.
Smithard also applauded the Namibian government for creating a transparent and stable investment climate that has made the country one of Africa’s leading recipients of foreign direct investment.
Local participation formed a central part of Rhino’s presentation. Smithard noted that the company’s current campaign employs 60% Namibian nationals and has directed 80% of its supply chain spend – around N$3.8 billion – to Namibian companies. In addition, Rhino continues to provide training through the Rhino-Halliburton Technology Centre.
“We as Africans have both the right – and the responsibility – to develop our resources for our people… If we lead with courage, integrity, and collaboration, Namibia can become a beacon of responsible development for Africa and the world,” Smithard told delegates.
He stressed that Rhino’s operations are aligned with Namibia’s National Development Plan 6, supporting hydrocarbons as a catalyst for economic growth, energy security, and a just energy transition.
Rhino Resources, a Cape Town-based privately-owned company and in Namibia operates the offshore exploration licence PEL85 in the prospective Orange Basin. In South Africa it is exploring onshore for biogenic gas, helium and hydrogen, and in Senegal, its subsidiary holds two offshore exploration licences.
