Namibian Opposition Raises Concerns Over Proposed Oil and Gas Legislation

Opposition parties in Namibia have raised concerns over a proposed amendment to the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act of 1991, which seeks to transfer oversight of the oil and gas sector to the Office of the President. Critics argue that centralizing control could lead to corruption and mismanagement, drawing parallels to the Fishrot scandal in the fishing industry.

Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani emphasized the risks of consolidating power under a single individual, stating that such a move could diminish the executive authority of the Minister of Industries, Mines, and Energy.

In response, Acting Minister of Industries, Mines, and Energy Frans Kapofi defended the bill, asserting that the proposed changes are intended to modernize and strengthen the existing legislation, ensuring regulatory clarity and aligning governance structures with international best practices.

The bill also proposes the establishment of an Upstream Petroleum Unit within the Office of the President, led by a director general and a deputy director general. This unit aims to consolidate technical, regulatory, and compliance functions to enhance efficiency in the rapidly growing petroleum industry.

Opposition leaders have called for a thorough examination of the bill, urging the government to learn from the experiences of countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, and Russia, where centralized control over natural resources has led to governance challenges.

The debate over the bill is set to continue when the National Assembly resumes from recess on 3 February 2026.