President Nangolo Mbumba has defended Namibia’s dual pursuit of oil exploration and renewable energy, emphasizing that the country’s energy strategy aligns with global climate commitments, including the Paris Agreement.
Amid concerns about the contradiction between fossil fuel projects and decarbonization efforts, Mbumba stressed that Namibia’s newly discovered oil resources will support a sustainable energy transition.
“The development of our newly discovered oil resources is not contradictory to our decarbonization agenda. It is part of a strategic energy mix that will enable us to transition sustainably,” Mbumba stated.
Namibia’s energy strategy aims to integrate both conventional and renewable energy sources. Last year, Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo reaffirmed the country’s intent to leverage its fossil fuel resources to meet domestic, regional, and continental energy demands.
Alweendo also criticized pressure from some developed nations urging Africa to abandon fossil fuel development.
“It is unreasonable that some countries and global interest groups attempt to discourage Africa from utilizing all its natural resources,” he said, adding that such critics label African oil and gas as “dirty, carbon-spewing” energy sources.
Namibia is advancing its ambition to become a global leader in green hydrogen production, with targets to produce green hydrogen by 2050 and plans to develop three hydrogen valleys across the country.
At the same time, major oil discoveries in the Orange Basin—including Graff-1, Venus-1, and Jonker-1X—have attracted global energy giants such as TotalEnergies, Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Galp, and QatarEnergy. These developments are positioning Namibia as a rising player in the international energy market.
By balancing oil exploration and renewable energy investment, Namibia aims to ensure energy security, economic growth, and a smooth transition to cleaner energy sources.
