ReconAfrica secures N$254 million to advance Kavango West 1X oil and gas testing in Namibia
Reconnaissance Energy Africa (ReconAfrica) has secured N$254 million in funding to advance testing at its Kavango West 1X (KW1X) well in Namibia, following the identification of hydrocarbons at the exploration well.
The funding will support the company’s ongoing production testing programme, which is designed to assess the reservoir’s performance, determine the type and quality of hydrocarbons present and establish the well’s potential for commercial production.
ReconAfrica began production testing at KW1X in June 2026 after drilling encountered a significant hydrocarbon-bearing interval.
The company subsequently reported flowing gas and liquids from the well during testing.
Testing to assess commercial potential
The Kavango West 1X well is located in the Kavango Basin in northeastern Namibia, an area ReconAfrica has been exploring for oil and natural gas.
The current testing programme is focused on obtaining critical reservoir data, including flow characteristics and pressure behaviour, to determine whether the discovery can support a commercially viable development.
ReconAfrica has also progressed towards a 1,000-metre horizontal test following the initial flow of hydrocarbons from the well.
The results are expected to provide important information for planning the next phase of exploration and potential development across the company’s extensive licence area.
Kavango Basin exploration
ReconAfrica holds petroleum interests covering approximately 8 million contiguous acres across northeastern Namibia and northwestern Botswana.
The company has described the Kavango Basin as a largely underexplored sedimentary basin with potential for oil and natural gas resources.
The KW1X testing programme therefore represents an important step in determining whether the hydrocarbons encountered can be produced at commercial rates and whether further drilling will be warranted across the basin.
