A new phase of offshore oil drilling is kicking off in Namibia as Saipem SpA’s Santorini drillship arrives at the “Mopane” site, an area marked by a previous discovery from Galp Energia SGPS SA.
The drillship, with a destination listed as “Mopane,” reached the field early on Wednesday, October 23.
Namibia is set to host at least four drilling campaigns by the end of the year, including projects from oil giants TotalEnergies SE and Chevron Corp., following a series of significant oil discoveries in its Atlantic waters.
While Galp has not commented on this recent milestone, CEO Filipe Silva stated in July that the company was preparing for the first of four new wells in Namibia, with drilling planned for the final quarter of this year.
The string of discoveries has made Namibia a hotbed for exploration activities, drawing attention from major oil companies despite more limited development budgets due to a global shift towards renewable energy.
Namibia’s petroleum commissioner, Maggy Shino, confirmed on October 9 that Rhino Resources would begin drilling two wells in November, with Chevron expected to start its drilling operations in December.
This surge in activity underscores Namibia’s growing potential as a key player in the oil industry, even amid broader energy transition trends.
