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Driven by a rising wave of mergers and acquisitions (M&As), Namibia’s oil and gas industry is undergoing an extraordinary change. Industry executives gathered at the Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) on Thursday to underline how M&As are significantly transforming the upstream sector of the nation. These agreements are not only releasing notable financial spending but also providing the technical knowledge required to propel development and exploration in Namibia’s offshore and onshore basins.
Gil Holzman, CEO of Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas, discussed how mostly purchases have driven his company’s growth in Namibia. Eco Atlantic has continuously increased its portfolio by buying important properties since it entered the market in 2009, including a significant acquisition in 2021 when it bought Azinam, so securing useful blocks in the Orange Basin. With significant companies like ExxonMobil, QatarEnergy, Chevron, and TotalEnergies already leaving their mark in the nation, Holzman underlined how these purchases have helped Namibia to be an appealing site for worldwide exploration.
Holzman remarked, “We have always viewed M&As as a crucial tool to strengthen an asset base.” Adding capital is not all; bringing in the appropriate knowledge will help to release the potential of these assets and guarantee Namibia’s future as a major player on the world energy scene.
Holzman also described Eco Atlantic’s staged approach, which calls for obtaining promising prospects, internal de-risking, and finally drawing cash and knowledge from key allies. He said that this strategy lets the business generate long-term value for investors and stakeholders by managing risk.
Adam Rubin, General Counsel at ReconAfrica, echoed same observations, stressing that M&As remain a major path for generating value in the upstream sector and promoting innovation. Though they have not yet started manufacturing, ReconAfrica is trying to realize the great promise of the Kavango Basin. Rubin was hopeful about the company’s future.
“The oil is there, and we are confident that we will be able to bring it to market,” Rubin added. Our plan for developing the correct alliances and obtaining the required finance to go from exploration to full-scale production is centered on M&As.
Sintana Energy’s CEO, Robert Bose, shared this view, saying that M&As had helped his firm grow its asset base and interact with the appropriate partners to diversify its portfolio. Bose claims that disciplined growth is essential to Sintana’s approach and that a major driver is still the capacity to invest in a reasonably way.
He stated, “Acquisitions enable us to access new possibilities and develop relationships with partners who can assist us to grow strategically.” Finding the correct balance between growing our footprint and keeping financial discipline, he said, is what matters.
From a financial standpoint, Liz Williamson, Head of Energy at Rand Merchant Bank, underlined that M&As are generating significant possibilities especially when multinational oil corporations (IOCs) divest from mature or late-life assets. These actions let mid-cap companies with new money take over and help to revitalize and grow these assets even further.
Williamson remarked, “Middle-tier companies are often in the best position to fully commit to and invest in these projects.” By attracting businesses with the resources and concentration required to propel long-term development, this trend helps African governments.
Williamson underlined particularly the need of obvious and open deal frameworks that foster investor confidence. Namibia has to keep building trust by providing clarity on local material laws and regulatory systems as foreign direct investment is a concern in many African countries.
“Namibia has to make sure the regulatory system is clear and encouraging if it is to stay competitive and draw required capital.” A clear framework will assist provide the confidence investors require to commit to long-term initiatives.
Namibia’s rising significance on the world energy map is becoming clear as it develops as a major exploration hotspot. Though far from finished, the NIEC was a crucial forum for debating the future of the energy sector of the nation. Scheduled for late September in Cape Town, the African Energy Week 2025: Invest in African Energies event will bring together government officials, investors, and business leaders to continue promoting partnerships that will shape Africa’s energy future and to further investigate Namibia’s possibilities.
Namibia’s emergence as a worldwide leader in the energy industry is proof of the strength of strategic M&As. The nation is well on its way to be one of Africa’s most vibrant and attractive energy markets as it keeps drawing investment and technological knowledge.
