NAMPOA builds industry voice
More than three decades after it was established, the Namibia Petroleum Operators Association (NAMPOA) remains a key platform for Namibia’s upstream petroleum industry, bringing operators together to engage Government, regulators and other stakeholders on the sector’s development.
NAMPOA members have collectively invested more than N$80 billion in Namibia’s petroleum sector since 1993, underscoring the industry’s long-standing financial commitment to the country.
The association’s focus is on building a coordinated industry voice while promoting responsible investment, local participation, skills development and sustainable economic value from Namibia’s petroleum resources.
Established in 1992 as a non-profit voluntary association, NAMPOA represents Namibia’s upstream oil and gas operators and provides a platform for members to develop common positions on issues affecting the industry.
Its role has become increasingly relevant as Namibia seeks to translate its petroleum potential into investment, economic activity and wider development opportunities.
Through NAMPOA, operators can coordinate their positions on policy, regulation and other industry matters while engaging constructively with Government and regulators.
The association says this approach is intended to support a stable, fair, competitive and effective operating environment for the petroleum industry.
Coordinating the industry
A central part of NAMPOA’s mandate is to provide the industry with a harmonised voice.
Rather than individual operators approaching common policy and regulatory challenges separately, the association provides a mechanism for members to share expertise, identify areas of common interest and develop evidence-based positions.
This gives policymakers and regulators a structured channel through which to engage with the upstream industry and draw on practical experience from companies operating in Namibia.
The association also seeks to promote dialogue between the petroleum industry and wider society, including communities and other stakeholders affected by or interested in the development of Namibia’s energy resources.
Supporting responsible development
NAMPOA’s mandate extends beyond representing the interests of operators.
The association says its members are committed to responsible operations, including safety, environmental stewardship, equal opportunity and the prevention of unfair discrimination.
Corporate social investment and responsible management of environmental impacts are also identified as important areas of focus.
For Namibia, where expectations around the economic and social benefits of oil and gas development are high, responsible operations will be central to maintaining public confidence in the sector.
NAMPOA says industry expertise and coordinated action can also assist the government in advancing national development priorities.
Creating local value
The development of Namibia’s petroleum industry is expected to create opportunities beyond exploration and production, particularly in areas such as skills development, employment, local procurement and the growth of domestic businesses.
NAMPOA says its members can contribute to these objectives by supporting local participation and stronger domestic capabilities.
The association’s focus is therefore not only on attracting and sustaining investment, but also on ensuring that the industry contributes to broader economic transformation.
This includes opportunities for Namibians to develop the technical and professional skills required to participate in an increasingly sophisticated petroleum value chain.
Aligning with NDP6
NAMPOA also positions its work within Namibia’s broader development framework, including the priorities of the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).
These include inclusive and sustainable growth, economic transformation, resilience, skills development, local value creation and employment.
The association says collaboration between Government, the private sector and wider society is necessary to advance these objectives.
For the petroleum industry, this means ensuring that investment and resource development are accompanied by opportunities for local businesses, workers and communities to participate in the resulting economic activity.
A platform for engagement
NAMPOA provides members with several avenues for collaboration, including policy engagement, knowledge-sharing, networking and stakeholder dialogue.
Membership allows operators to contribute collectively to discussions affecting the industry while gaining access to the experience and expertise of other companies operating in Namibia.
The association also serves as a platform for members to identify common challenges and explore coordinated responses.
Its stated objective is to facilitate transparent and inclusive engagement around the opportunities and challenges facing Namibia’s energy sector, with a focus on national development outcomes.
Industry leadership
NAMPOA is led by Shell Country Chair Eduardo Rodriguez, who serves as chairperson, while Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas director Selma Usiku is vice-chairperson.
The association’s leadership also includes Galp Country Manager Diogo Martins, TotalEnergies Country Manager Mariam Kane-Garcia and NAMCOR Senior Geoscientist Lamek Kamati.
Executive Director Festus Hangula leads NAMPOA’s executive team.
The composition of the leadership reflects the range of companies and expertise represented within Namibia’s upstream petroleum industry.
Looking beyond exploration
As investment in Namibia’s petroleum sector continues to develop, the industry faces a broader question than the discovery of commercially viable resources: how those resources can translate into sustained economic value.
For NAMPOA, the answer lies partly in collaboration.
By providing a platform for operators to engage collectively with Government, regulators and society, the association aims to contribute industry expertise to policy discussions while supporting a responsible and competitive investment environment.
Its members’ more than N$80 billion in cumulative investment since 1993 provides a measure of the industry’s existing footprint in Namibia.
The next phase will place greater emphasis on how investment, technical expertise and resource development can generate local capabilities, employment and value for the wider economy.
NAMPOA’s role is to help provide the industry with a coordinated platform as Namibia navigates that transition.
