Merger and acquisition (M&A) exercise continues to emerge as a vital engine for progress in Namibia’s upstream oil and fuel sector, as emphasised throughout a high-level panel dialogue on the Namibia Worldwide Vitality Convention (NIEC) on Thursday. Trade leaders outlined how strategic M&A offers will not be solely reshaping the nation’s power panorama, but additionally taking part in a key position in unlocking capital and accelerating exploration.
Gil Holzman, CEO of Eco Atlantic Oil&Gasoline, highlighted how acquisitions have underpinned his firm’s growth in Namibia since its entry into the market in 2009, stating: “Most of our greatest blocks are the results of M&As. Our most up-to-date acquisition was in 2021 after we purchased Azinam, which gave us promising blocks within the Orange Basin.”
In line with Holzman, these acquisitions have fortified Eco Atlantic’s asset portfolio whereas positioning Namibia as an more and more engaging frontier for international exploration. He pointed to M&A transactions involving supermajors equivalent to ExxonMobil, QatarEnergy, Chevron and TotalEnergies as instrumental in bringing in not simply capital, but additionally the technical capabilities wanted to advance exploration in Namibia’s offshore and onshore basins.
Discussing the corporate’s operational technique, Holzman emphasised a phased method anchored in collaboration: “We intention to safe promising prospects, de-risk them internally after which appeal to companions with the technical know-how and capital required to unlock new frontiers.”
Echoing this sentiment, Adam Rubin, Common Counsel at ReconAfrica, emphasised that M&As stay a strategic avenue to catalyze worth creation, drive innovation and meet the substantial capital calls for of upstream growth. “We’ve not but produced onshore, however the oil is there. Be affected person – we are going to discover it and produce,” he mentioned, reaffirming the corporate’s dedication to transferring from exploration towards full-scale manufacturing within the Kavango Basin.
Robert Bose, CEO of Sintana Vitality, added that M&A exercise has performed a central position in enabling Sintana to broaden its asset base and construct relationships with complementary companions. “M&As have helped us join with the correct companions and diversify our portfolio,” he mentioned. “Price-effective funding stays a key motivator, and we’re centered on disciplined progress.”
From a monetary perspective, Liz Williamson, Head of Vitality at Rand Service provider Financial institution, outlined the alternatives that come up when IOCs divest from mature or late-life property. She famous that such strikes usually create openings for mid-cap companies with recent capital and a centered method to step in. “This development is helpful for African governments, as middle-tier firms are sometimes higher suited to totally decide to and spend money on these tasks,” she defined.
Williamson additionally underscored the significance of creating clear, investor-friendly deal frameworks and native content material insurance policies that construct investor confidence. “Not many African international locations are at present securing important overseas direct funding, and Namibia should preserve its attraction by providing readability on native content material legal guidelines,” she mentioned.
As Namibia emerges as a key exploration hotspot on the continent, discussions round capital flows, deal-making and upstream growth are set to proceed at African Vitality Week 2025: Put money into African Energies, happening from September 29-October 3, 2025 in Cape City. The occasion will unite business leaders, traders and authorities representatives to advance dialogue, showcase venture alternatives and drive strategic partnerships throughout Africa’s power panorama. Namibia’s rising profile and up to date exploration success shall be a focus, drawing elevated consideration from international stakeholders looking for entry into one of many continent’s most dynamic markets.
AEW: Put money into African Energies is the platform of alternative for venture operators, financiers, know-how suppliers and authorities, and has emerged because the official place to signal offers in African power. Go to www.AECWeek.com for extra details about this thrilling occasion.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Vitality Chamber.
