Namibia’s Energy Crossroads: A Pragmatic Path Forward

By Simnikiwe Hlatshaneni

In this exclusive interview, Knowledge Ndunge Ipinge—architect of Namibia's landmark Erongo Offshore Safety Conference—challenges conventional wisdom about Africa's energy future. As global energy markets oscillate between fossil fuels and renewables, Namibia stands at a pivotal moment.

As nations rush toward renewables, Ipinge offers a balanced alternative: using oil revenues to develop Namibia's economy while prioritizing safety from day one. Learning from past oil disasters and successful resource models, he charts a practical path forward.

Namibia's new oil discoveries have made it an energy contender, but tough decisions lie ahead. Leading the discussion is Ipinge, a seasoned strategist, whose practical approach balances oil development with safety and sustainability.

His message is clear: with presidential oversight and Pan-African partnerships, Namibia's energy boom must first and foremost benefit Namibians. As the country prepares to host industry leaders at May's critical safety summit, this conversation offers a timely look at how African nations might navigate the energy transition on their terms.

How is the global economic shift, including the transition to renewable energy and fluctuating oil prices, impacting offshore safety priorities in the oil and gas industry?

The global push for rapid renewable energy transition overlooks oil and gas's role in funding Namibia's industrialization and social programs. While BP and others are increasing hydrocarbon investments, we're responding by making safety a national priority through the Erongo Offshore Safety Conference. Placing oil/gas under presidential oversight ensures these resources benefit all Namibians, starting with safe operations as the foundation for sustainable development.

The upcoming Erongo Offshore Safety Conference, scheduled for May 1–2, 2025, at The MTC Dome in Swakopmund, is being positioned as a national platform for reshaping how we define and implement offshore safety standards. This is not just a technical conversation; it is a strategic one.

Under normal circumstances, economic fluctuations influencing oil prices and geopolitical tensions would lead to maintaining capital discipline. However, a recent report from the UK confirmed our stance by indicating that only a small fraction of offshore oil and gas companies are committing to transitioning to renewable energy sources.

A few weeks ago, oil major BP announced it would cut its renewable energy investments and refocus on increasing annual oil and gas spending to $10 billion, which will benefit safety priorities globally.

In what ways is NAOGSP adapting its strategies to ensure safety remains a top priority amid these economic changes?

Through NAOGSP’s objective of policy and legislative advocacy, we conceptualized the inaugural Erongo Offshore Safety Conference to serve as a platform for participants to engage in robust discussions and presentations of case studies focused on responses to incidents, key regulatory processes, and lessons learned from the loss of well control associated with the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico and the Montara well off the coast of Australia.

This important initiative is designed to cultivate a culture of safety and provide public assurance that offshore petroleum activities in Namibia will be conducted safely. It will emphasize the accountability of operators, service companies, and regulators in managing associated risks offshore Namibia to ensure excellence in safety performance and employee well-being.

How do partnerships like the MOU with AECIPA help the African oil and gas sector remain competitive and resilient in a shifting global economy?

Our strategic partnership with AECIPA presents a unique Pan-African approach to promoting industry-friendly legislation, standards, joint project participation, supply chain optimization, market intelligence, and research. This collaboration gives us a competitive edge to achieve genuine local content in our respective countries.

What role do innovation and technology play in addressing both safety and sustainability challenges in the industry?

AI-driven predictive maintenance and IoT sensors prevent 40% of potential accidents by flagging equipment failures in real-time, according to research by Delloite. That's why we partnered with DNV - they reinvest 5% of revenue into R&D, bridging safety and sustainability through innovation.

Digital transformation is a priority as the market becomes increasingly competitive and regulated due to geopolitical implications, unstable prices, and the evolving landscape. The latter largely influenced our decision to onboard DNV as our Technical Advisors, given that DNV is a firm believer in the pan-industry development of new technology and innovation to solve common challenges. They invest at least 5% of their annual revenue into research, development, and innovation to address both safety and sustainability challenges in the oil and gas industry.

How can the oil and gas industry balance the need for economic growth with the increasing global demand for sustainable practices?

I firmly believe that to enhance the well-being of our people and enable them to live dignified lives, we need to build a diversified economy where oil and gas fund education, healthcare, and address historical marginalization. Economic growth in low- and middle-income countries is not straightforward but is largely affected by governance and the effectiveness of institutions.

That’s why we are exploring sustainability-linked safety and procurement frameworks, ensuring that operators not only meet environmental standards but also commit to local hiring, knowledge transfer, and transparent community engagement. These ideas were echoed in recent industry convenings, which called for a national roadmap aligning technical excellence with social equity. This directly responds to the President’s vision: managing these industries to maximize benefit for all Namibians, with oversight at the highest level of state to ensure accountability.

What lesson can the African offshore oil and gas sector learn from other regions that are also navigating this economic shift?

Under current circumstances, we should utilize the five-point policy roadmap by the American Petroleum Institute (API) as a toolkit to alleviate poverty and resist neocolonial pressure to prematurely abandon fossil fuels. We should consider using the API lobbying style to negotiate equitable contracts, bolster geopolitical strength, join Pan-African regional business integration initiatives, direct revenue into a sovereign wealth fund like Botswana's diamond model, and cultivate a well-equipped workforce. This approach can lead to economic efficiency, resulting in increased employment, higher productivity levels, a broader manufacturing base, and strengthened competitiveness.

How do you see the role of offshore oil and gas evolving in the next decade, especially as the world moves toward cleaner energy sources?

The offshore oil and gas industry will continue to play a vital role, heavily influenced by the rate of production in non-OPEC countries, geopolitical factors, and the strategic push for energy independence boosted by the return of Donald Trump to the White House. The discoveries off the coast of Guyana, Namibia, and Brazil’s pre-salt fields are expected to rise significantly over the coming years, entering a new phase of production growth.

For Namibia, the Erongo Offshore Safety Conference will help define how this growth is managed, not only from an engineering standpoint but from a governance and accountability lens. By setting clear safety benchmarks early in our production cycle, we can avoid the pitfalls other producers have experienced. Moreover, with oversight now directed from the Office of the President, the conference becomes a strategic vehicle to ensure the sector evolves in alignment with national values.

What opportunities does the current global economic situation present for Namibia and the broader African continent in energy development?

Opportunities are vast across Namibia, but the most crucial in my view is creating a skilled safety workforce to address youth unemployment. This involves building safety infrastructure, negotiating advanced safety technology, and establishing local innovation hubs to secure market access.

One promising initiative that has emerged from recent national consultations is the concept of a Safety Workforce Compact, a joint commitment between government, industry, and education stakeholders to expand offshore safety training and certification programs. With the President’s office now overseeing oil and gas strategy, such initiatives gain not just momentum but long-term policy support. This ensures our people, not just our resources, remain central to Namibia’s growth story.

*Culled from April Edition of PAV Magazine