Africa
By Anthony Isibor
THE organisers of the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition NOGC say this year’s event will place greater emphasis on connecting investment in the country’s petroleum sector with practical opportunities for Namibian businesses, workers and entrepreneurs.
The conference, scheduled for 18–20 August 2026 in Windhoek, is expected to bring together government officials, oil and gas operators, investors, financiers, service companies, technical experts and local enterprises to discuss the next phase of Namibia’s energy industry.
Held under the theme, “From Decision to Dividend: Making Namibia’s Oil Work for Namibians,” the conference will examine how recent petroleum discoveries can translate into jobs, contracts, skills development and long-term economic growth.
Hosted by the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN) in partnership with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), with strategic partners NAMCOR, SNC Incorporated and Rhino Resources, the conference is officially endorsed by Namibia’s Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy.
According to the organisers, NOGC 2026 has been designed to move beyond policy discussions by creating direct engagement between international companies and local suppliers.
One of the centrepieces of the programme will be the NIPDB Local Content Pitching Session, where 15 Namibian businesses and entrepreneurs will each deliver five-minute presentations showcasing their capabilities to operators, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors, Tier 1 suppliers and other industry decision-makers.
Chairperson of NOGC 2026, Jason Kasuto, said the event is intended to deliver measurable business outcomes.
“Expect a marketplace, not a talk shop,” Kasuto said.
“For investors, it is access to a stable frontier and credible local partners. For operators and service providers, a stronger, better-understood supply base. For local businesses, the chance to leave with a contract, a partner or a benchmark.”
The conference opens on 18 August with a Local Content and Suppliers Masterclass, focusing on supplier development, workforce localisation, procurement systems, skills transfer and partnerships between international operators and Namibian companies.
The second edition of the NIPDB Local Content Pitching initiative will be followed by structured networking sessions aimed at facilitating business relationships across the upstream oil and gas value chain.
Chemell Plaatjies, who leads the Local Supplier Pitching and Supplier Information Sessions at the NIPDB, said the initiative was created to convert local-content objectives into practical commercial opportunities.
“The Local Content Pitching Session was established to translate Namibia’s local-content aspirations into practical business opportunities,” Plaatjies said.
“It gives capable Namibian businesses a platform to showcase their services directly to industry stakeholders, increasing supplier visibility and supporting the development of a competitive and sustainable local supply chain.”
She added that participating companies would gain valuable insight into procurement expectations while building relationships with key industry players.
“Participating businesses will gain exposure to procurement decision-makers, industry requirements and market insights that can strengthen their readiness and competitiveness,” she said.
“By connecting suppliers with operators, EPC contractors, Tier 1 suppliers and other stakeholders, the session creates pathways to partnerships and future procurement opportunities across the upstream value chain.”
Organisers have also included a Future Generations Programme, designed to prepare young Namibians for careers in the energy industry through discussions on education, technical training, mentorship and entrepreneurship.
The executive programme on 19 August will focus on “Industry in Action: Operators, Independents and Finance,” examining project economics, offshore field development, financing, supply-chain readiness and the partnerships required to move discoveries towards first oil production.
The final day will examine “SMEs, Finance, Servicing and Critical Infrastructure to Develop a Sustainable Energy Mix,” with discussions covering infrastructure development, logistics, gas commercialisation, access to finance and energy security.
According to Paulo Coelho, Director of Communications at NAMCOR, partnerships within the petroleum sector should create benefits that extend beyond individual projects.
“Successful partnerships must go beyond transactions,” Coelho said.
“They should build lasting local capacity, strengthen institutions and create Namibian enterprises that remain competitive beyond a single petroleum project.”
Running alongside the executive sessions, the Namibia Oil and Gas Technical Conference will feature technical discussions on exploration, field development, production infrastructure, emerging technologies and environmental management.
Organisers expect close to 2,000 delegates from government, industry, finance, academia, civil society and the international energy community to attend the three-day event.
They said NOGC 2026 aims to bridge policy, investment, technical knowledge and supplier development to help more Namibian businesses position themselves for future contracts and partnerships as the country’s petroleum industry advances.
A.I
July 20, 2026
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