WINDHOEK, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) and its joint venture partners have announced the discovery of hydrocarbon within the Kavango West 1X exploration well.
The well, located on Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) 73, signals another crucial milestone in Namibia's emerging oil and gas narrative.
"The Kavango West 1X well successfully encountered a gross hydrocarbon section of approximately 400 meters within the Otavi carbonate formation," the state-owned entity, NAMCOR, said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to NAMCOR, ReconAfrica, the operator of PEL 73, completed drilling operations on Nov. 29, after reaching a total depth of 4,200 meters. The well has been temporarily suspended and will be reentered in the first quarter of 2026 for a production test to determine flow rates and reservoir performance.
"We are encouraged by the results from the 1X well and what this represents for Namibia's oil and gas future. Each discovery brings us closer to realizing our vision of harnessing our natural resources responsibly to drive national development and energy security," said NAMCOR's Interim Managing Director Maureen Mbuende.
The result marks another milestone in Namibia's growing oil and gas sector, underscoring the Damara Fold Belt's potential and strengthening confidence in the country's onshore petroleum systems. ■
