namibia

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Namibia has been an active exploration region since the 1960s, highlighted by Chevron's 1974 discovery of the Kudu Gas Field (1.45 TCF). Recent years have seen a major resurgence, transforming the country into a premier frontier hotspot following a series of world-class offshore discoveries.

In early 2022, Shell, with partners QatarEnergy and NAMCOR, announced a major oil discovery at the Graff-1 well, with subsequent appraisal indicating potential recoverable resources of up to 2 billion barrels of oil. Shortly after, TotalEnergies and Africa Oil reported a significant discovery at the Venus-1X well, estimated to hold approximately 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent. These breakthroughs in the Orange Basin confirm the extension of a prolific petroleum system analogous to Brazil's pre-salt plays.

This success has accelerated activity across Namibia's offshore. Chevron holds an operated position in Petroleum Exploration License 82 in the Walvis Basin, where it has acquired 3D seismic and is progressing exploration plans. Onshore, 

In December 2025 Reconnaissance Energy Africa (ReconAfrica) has advanced the emerging Damara Fold Belt play, confirming hydrocarbon pay at its Kavango West 1X well on PEL 73. The well identified roughly 85 m of net reservoir, including 64 m of net pay, and is slated for a production test in Q1 2026 to assess flow potential from both the logged intervals and the deeper fractured carbonates.

Despite this momentum, Namibia's offshore retains very low drilling density. The recent discoveries have de-risked adjacent basins and provided critical new geological data. Nabirm is leveraging these insights to evaluate high-potential prospects within its operated Block 2113A, located in the under-explored Walvis Basin—the same geological province where Chevron is actively exploring—which shares a conjugate margin with the new play openers to the south.