The Namibian Competition Commission has approved a transaction between TotalEnergies EP Namibia BV and Windhoek PEL 28 BV involving the exchange of participating interests in three Petroleum Exploration Licences — PEL 83, PEL 56 and PEL 91 — in a decision that reinforces Namibia’s standing as one of Africa’s most stable and attractive destinations for upstream oil and gas investment.
The transaction, registered under Case No: 2026MAR0018MER, was reviewed by the Commission, which noted that while the deal introduces a horizontal overlap in Namibia’s petroleum exploration sector, it results in only a marginal change in market share. The Commission found the market to remain competitive and identified no public interest concerns, paving the way for unconditional approval.
The licence swap comes at a pivotal moment for Namibia’s offshore industry. The country’s deepwater basins have attracted intense global attention following a series of significant exploration successes, and international operators are actively repositioning their portfolio interests to align with emerging development priorities. Analysts say the Commission’s decision reinforces perceptions of Namibia as a jurisdiction where regulatory processes are transparent and investment-friendly.
By facilitating collaboration and portfolio rationalisation between major players, the transaction is expected to strengthen the pace of exploration activity and deepen Namibia’s integration into the Southern African energy landscape — two outcomes that align closely with the government’s ambitions to develop the country’s offshore resources for national economic benefit.
Source: namibiaoilandgas.com