Namibia’s offshore discoveries have moved the country’s petroleum sector into a more complex phase. The challenge is no longer simply establishing resource potential, but building the technical capability, commercial discipline and institutional strength needed to advance viable projects.
These issues will be central to the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, returning to Windhoek from 18–20 August 2026.
Hosted by the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN), in partnership with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), and with strategic partners the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR), SNC Incorporated and Rhino Resources, the conference is officially endorsed by Namibia’s Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy.
Held under the theme “From Decision to Dividend: Making Namibia’s Oil Work for Namibians,” NOGC 2026 will bring together government, operators, investors, financiers, service companies and local businesses to examine how the sector can advance responsibly.
For NAMCOR, the transition will require a broader commercial and strategic role.
“NAMCOR’s role is evolving from primarily supporting exploration and representing the State’s participating interests to becoming a more active, commercially focused partner across the full upstream value chain,” said Paulo Coelho, Manager: Marketing, Communication and Public Relations at NAMCOR.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that Namibia’s interests are effectively represented in technical, commercial and investment decisions. This requires deeper capability in reservoir evaluation, development economics, project assurance, operations, governance and joint-venture management.”
Coelho said NAMCOR must also help convert petroleum activity into broader national value by supporting supplier participation, workforce readiness and coordinated infrastructure planning.
NOGC 2026 will advance these priorities through a Local Content and Suppliers Masterclass and two rounds of pitches from 15 Namibian businesses and entrepreneurs.
A Future Generations programme will explore technical training, career pathways, entrepreneurship and how educational institutions can prepare Namibians for opportunities in the sector.
Coelho said the strongest partnerships will combine international expertise and capital with local capability, institutional leadership and Namibia’s long-term priorities.
“Successful partnerships must go beyond transactions,” he said. “They should build lasting local capacity, strengthen institutions and create Namibian enterprises that remain competitive beyond a single petroleum project.”
Partnerships between NAMCOR and international operators should increasingly focus on practical knowledge transfer, joint technical work, secondments and the development of Namibian professionals across the project lifecycle. Coordinated infrastructure and supply-chain planning could also reduce costs and avoid unnecessary duplication.
Namibian companies must also build credible, standards-compliant businesses capable of competing across the value chain. Access to finance, certification and technology will be critical to improving their competitiveness.
These priorities will also feature across the conference’s executive and technical sessions. On 19 August, discussions will examine the realities of moving discoveries towards development, including project economics, field development options, supply-chain readiness and partnerships for first oil.
The final day will focus on SMEs, access to finance, infrastructure, servicing and gas commercialisation.
Coelho cautioned that petroleum discoveries do not immediately translate into public revenue, employment or economic transformation. Considerable appraisal, engineering, investment and regulatory work must first be completed. Projects must also be technically viable, commercially competitive and developed safely and responsibly.
NAMCOR hopes NOGC 2026 will produce practical commitments linking investment decisions to measurable outcomes for Namibians. The desired outcome is a shared national roadmap supported by government, operators, investors, training institutions and the private sector.
Close to 2,000 delegates are expected to attend. NOGC 2026 will provide a platform to clarify priorities and identify the practical steps needed to move Namibia’s petroleum ambitions towards responsible development.