Oil expected to flow by 2026

Mines minister Tom Alweendo says Namibia is expected to see oil production by 2026 if all goes well.He made the comments during a Cabinet briefing this week, adding that government is working tirelessly with oil giants Total Energies and Shell to realise the goal, with expectations that oil production could start within four to five years.“The work we are doing with our investors, if all goes to plan, we should have first oil in four to five years. We are all eager to make sure that the time from discovery to production is shortened as much as possible,” Alweendo said.A lot of preparation work will be required to ensure government meets its ambitious oil production targets, he added.Enabling infrastructure will also need to be put in place to ensure government delivers on its targets, according to the minister.No quiet years“I also need to be clear to say that, when I say we will have first oil in about four years, this does not mean that it will be quiet intervening years. A lot of preparatory work needs to be happen. For example, to build oil platforms, you need to construct oil pipelines; you need to acquire offices from which you will operate; you need to acquire oil basis from which the oil rigs are going to be served,” he said of the range of activities that would need to be completed between discovery and production.“These are all the activities that will need to take place in the next four to five years, and that will create employment,” he added.Total and Shell made significant discoveries in 2021 which could position Namibia as an oil and gas major in the years to come.Consultant Wood Mackenzie estimated that Namibian discoveries could contain about 6.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent of recoverable reserves.The discoveries could double Namibia’s gross domestic product by 2040, experts said.

Oil expected to flow by 2026

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-22

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Oil expected to flow by 2026

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-22

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