HOUSING UPSTREAM PETROLEUM UNIT IN PRESIDENCY MAKES OIL AND GAS A TOP NATIONAL PRIORITY — SHILUNGA
— Mary Ene
Kornelia Shilunga, Special Advisor and Head of Namibia's Upstream Petroleum Unit, says placing the UPU directly under the Presidency was a deliberate strategic decision to centralise oversight, accelerate decision-making and eliminate policy fragmentation across government. She was speaking at a me…
Namibia has made a bold institutional statement oil and gas now sits at the highest level of government, and the country's energy future will be managed from the Presidency itself.
Speaking in Windhoek, Shilunga said the discovery of hydrocarbons represents a transformative moment in Namibia's history with significant economic, social and geopolitical implications. Because the upstream petroleum sector intersects with multiple offices, ministries and agencies including energy, environment, finance and labour housing the UPU in the Presidency allows for central coordination and removes the risk of policy fragmentation that would slow down one of the continent's most promising new energy frontiers.
The decision, Shilunga noted, was outlined by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in her State of the Nation Address. It provides the institutional authority required for timely decision-making in a competitive global energy environment while ensuring direct presidential oversight to enhance public confidence. The message to international investors is clear: Namibia's petroleum sector has the full weight of the head of state behind it.
The Petroleum Amendment Bill, currently before Parliament, formalises this structure. It transfers most operational licensing powers from the Ministry of Mines and Energy to a new Director-General of the UPU , a specialised technocrat appointed for expertise rather than political alignment. Cabinet has also approved the Upstream Local Content Policy, designed to ensure Namibians participate meaningfully in the sector through jobs, skills development and business contracts.
Namibia's reserves stand at an estimated 11 billion barrels of oil and 2.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas discovered largely since 2022 in the Orange Basin. TotalEnergies is targeting a final investment decision for the Venus field in 2026, while Galp is advancing the Mopane development. With companies including Shell, Eni, Chevron and Rhino Resources also active, Namibia is on track to become a producing nation before the end of the decade.
Shilunga also used the platform to address media, urging accurate and contextualised reporting. Petrofund CEO Nillian Mulemi reinforced the point, warning that inaccurate or sensational coverage can distort public expectations, undermine investor confidence and damage the national interest. "Oil and gas development is a long-term process," Shilunga said. "Discoveries do not automatically translate into immediate revenues.
HOUSING UPSTREAM PETROLEUM UNIT IN PRESIDENCY MAKES OIL AND GAS A TOP NATIONAL PRIORITY — SHILUNGA