TotalEnergies Takes Operatorship of Namibia’s Mopane Oil Discovery, Targets 2028 FID
French energy major TotalEnergies has completed its acquisition of a 40% operated interest in Namibia’s Petroleum Exploration Licence 83 (PEL83), marking its formal entry as operator of the Mopane oil discovery in the Orange Basin.
The transaction, agreed with Galp in December 2025, has received final approval from Namibian authorities.
Under the agreement, TotalEnergies acquired Galp’s 40% operated interest in PEL83, while Galp acquired a 10% participating interest in PEL56, which contains the Venus discovery, and a 9.39% interest in PEL91.
Following completion of the transaction, PEL83 is held by TotalEnergies and Galp with 40% each, while Namibia’s National Petroleum Corporation, Namcor, holds 10% and Custos Energy holds the remaining 10%.
The deal strengthens TotalEnergies’ position in Namibia’s Orange Basin and makes it operator of the country’s two largest oil discoveries, Mopane and Venus.
TotalEnergies plans to begin a three-well appraisal programme on PEL83 in the second half of 2026.
The campaign is expected to provide additional information on the scale and characteristics of the Mopane discovery and support development planning.
The company is targeting a final investment decision on the Mopane project in 2028.
TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné said the company’s entry as operator of Mopane represents an important milestone in its efforts to establish a major production hub in Namibia.
The Mopane discovery, located offshore in the Orange Basin, is among a series of significant oil discoveries that have positioned Namibia as an emerging exploration frontier.
The country has attracted major international energy companies as exploration activity accelerates across its offshore basins.
TotalEnergies’ expanded operatorship also provides the company with further opportunities to pursue exploration beyond the Mopane development as it assesses the broader potential of its Namibian acreage.
The transaction leaves TotalEnergies with operated interests in three Namibian licences, including a 35.25% operated interest in PEL56 and a 33.09% operated interest in PEL91.
