TotalEnergies has launched a series of public consultations in Namibia as part of the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for its proposed offshore Venus oil project.
Consultations will be held this week in Windhoek, with sessions scheduled for April 22 at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre and April 23 at the United Nations Plaza.
The Venus project, located offshore Namibia, is expected to produce approximately 150,000 barrels of oil per day in its first phase.
The consultation process began earlier this month with meetings in Keetmanshoop, Bethanie, and Oranjemund, and will soon extend to Swakopmund, Henties Bay, and Walvis Bay.
These sessions are part of the scoping phase of the ESIA and aim to gather feedback from local communities, stakeholders, and leaders regarding the project’s potential environmental and social impacts.
Laurent Roché, Managing Director for Exploration and Production at TotalEnergies, emphasized that the project is a collaborative effort involving Impact Oil and Gas, Namcor, QatarEnergy, and TotalEnergies.
The consultations are facilitated by Urban Dynamics, which is providing detailed information about the project’s timeline, expected impacts, and mitigation plans.
The sessions are held in various formats—including open houses, focus groups, and formal meetings—to encourage broad participation and accommodate diverse preferences.
Community members are encouraged to ask questions and share feedback directly with representatives from TotalEnergies and Namcor.
Feedback collected will be reviewed by SLR Environmental Consulting, the independent firm conducting the ESIA.
Their findings will be shared with the public and submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
Roché reported high levels of interest and engagement from residents, youth, and local business owners, noting that some meetings extended beyond scheduled times due to active participation.
He confirmed that over 750 people from the //Kharas region have already attended and expressed gratitude for their input.
