STAFF WRITER
Chairperson of the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN) and managing director of Monasa Advisories and Associates, Jason Kasuto, says Namibia’s emerging oil industry must be deliberately structured to ensure that discoveries translate into real economic benefits for citizens.
The Namibia Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, scheduled for 18 to 20 August 2026, will be held in Windhoek and is expected to convene key industry stakeholders to discuss investment, local participation and skills development.
The event is being organised by the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN) in partnership with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR), SNC Incorporated and Rhino Resources.
Speaking at the launch on Monday, Kasuto said Namibia’s energy future will depend on strong collaboration across sectors and stakeholders.
“Namibia’s energy future will be shaped through collaboration. It requires partnerships between local and international stakeholders, between established operators and emerging enterprises, and between policymakers and communities,” he said.
The conference will run under the theme “Industry in Action: Operators, Independents and Finance”, focusing on project development, investment opportunities and upstream cooperation.
Kasuto said the central goal is to ensure that oil and gas growth is both sustainable and inclusive.
“Above all, it requires a shared commitment to ensuring that growth is both sustainable and inclusive. It is therefore my pleasure to officially unveil the theme of the fourth Namibia Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition: ‘From decision to dividend: making Namibia’s oil work for Namibians,’” he said.
He added that the conference is expected to strengthen training, skills development and broader capacity building in the sector.
NAMCOR communications and public relations specialist Utaara Hoveka said the 2025 edition of the conference attracted government officials, regulators, international oil companies, investors, financiers, service providers, local businesses, academia and civil society.
“There were dedicated sessions on procurement opportunities for local companies, supplier development programmes, skills transfer, workforce development policies that promote local participation without discouraging investment, lessons learned from other oil-producing nations, and technical and industry knowledge sharing,” she said.
EAN chief executive officer Cons Karamata said the success of the sector should not be measured only by discoveries or investment announcements.
“Success will be measured by the growth of local businesses and entrepreneurs. It will be measured by stronger skills, stronger institutions and stronger communities. It will be measured by the opportunities created for young Namibians entering the workforce,” he said.
This year’s edition will feature an expanded exhibition and enhanced networking programme. The pre-conference programme will also include a speed networking session and a dedicated Future Generations segment aimed at youth empowerment through skills development, mentorship and industry engagement.
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