Singapore Company Invests in Namibia’s Kudu Gas Project

By Wallace Mawire BW Kudu Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of BW Offshore Singapore Pvt Ltd has entered into investment agreement with the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) which is expected to see the Namibian company boosting power generation capacity for the country. According to Immanuel Mulunga, NAMCOR Managing Director, the company has agreed to accept an investment offer from BW Kudu Limited for a 56% working interest in the offshore 885 megawatt kudu gas field. It is reported that BW Offshore, a joint Norwegian/Singaporean owned company is one of the world's leading suppliers and operators of offshore floating production systems with extensive experience in the development of offshore fields. NAMCOR has also agreed to transfer the role of field operator to BW Kudu, but will work closely together with BW Kudu within a joint development team as the field is prepared for the final investment decision and the subsequent field development.This will include the drilling of production wells, the construction of sub-sea and gas transmission pipelines and the installation of a floating production system. It is also further reported that the Kudu Gas to Power project is a key strategic power generation project for Namibia, which is expected to witness decreased reliance on imported power and accelerate economic development.It involves the development of the offshore Kudu gas field to deliver gas through a 170km long pipeline to a power station to be built at Uubvlei, some 25 kilometres northeast of Oranjemund. The station will be connected to the Namibian and South African electricity grids by new transmission lines. BW Offshore CEO Carl Arnet said that Kudu represents another opportunity for BW Kudu to take a proactive development role in a project that will produce for 15 to 25 years.He said that the electricity generated by the power station will reshape electricity supply in south-western Africa, providing a secure long term supply to support the development of Namibia and potentially neigbouring countries.