TotalEnergies and Galp Reaffirm Long-Term Commitment to Namibia Following High-Level Presidential Meeting
Senior executives from TotalEnergies and Galp have reaffirmed their long-term strategic commitment to Namibia during a high-level meeting with the country’s President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, underscoring the growing importance of Namibia’s offshore energy potential and the companies’ shared vision for responsible resource development.
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies, and Paula Amorim, Chairman of Galp, met jointly with the President to provide an update on the progress of their recently announced partnership and to outline the next phases of activity across several key offshore exploration and development licenses in the prolific Orange Basin. The meeting highlighted the alignment between the two energy companies and the Namibian government as the country moves closer to becoming a significant oil and gas producer on the global stage.
Strategic Partnership Across the Orange Basin
The presidential engagement follows a landmark agreement between TotalEnergies and Galp that reshapes operatorship and participation across critical offshore blocks. Under the agreement, TotalEnergies will assume operatorship of Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) 83, which hosts the Mopane discoveries, while Galp will acquire interests in PEL 56 and PEL 91, which include the highly significant Venus discovery.
This strategic realignment allows both companies to leverage their respective technical strengths, operational expertise, and global experience in deepwater exploration and development. By aligning their portfolios across both Venus and Mopane, TotalEnergies and Galp aim to optimize project execution, accelerate decision-making, and enhance overall value creation for Namibia and project stakeholders.
During the meeting, the companies briefed the Presidency on the status of the transaction, the ongoing transition of operatorship, and the regulatory and technical milestones required to advance both projects toward development.
Confidence in Namibia’s Energy Future
TotalEnergies and Galp used the occasion to reaffirm their strong confidence in Namibia’s long-term prospects as an emerging oil and gas producer. Since the first major discoveries in the Orange Basin, Namibia has rapidly gained international attention as one of the most promising new offshore frontiers, attracting significant investment interest from global energy players.
Both companies emphasized their commitment to developing Namibia’s energy resources responsibly, efficiently, and in close partnership with national authorities. They highlighted that long-term success will depend not only on resource development, but also on ensuring that projects deliver broad-based economic benefits, support national development goals, and uphold the highest environmental and safety standards.
The executives reiterated that cooperation with government institutions and regulators will remain central to achieving these objectives, particularly as projects move from exploration and appraisal into development planning and execution.
Economic and Social Value Creation
A key focus of the discussions was the expected contribution of the TotalEnergies–Galp partnership to Namibia’s economy. The companies outlined how upcoming project phases are expected to generate employment opportunities, support skills development, and stimulate growth across local supply chains.
They emphasized their intention to work closely with Namibian businesses, training institutions, and service providers to build local capabilities that can support offshore operations over the long term. From engineering and logistics to maintenance and support services, the development of Venus and Mopane is expected to create sustained demand for local industry participation.
The companies also underlined the importance of predictable and efficient regulatory frameworks to ensure timely project execution. Continued regulatory support, they noted, will be essential to maintaining momentum as the projects progress through complex technical, environmental, and commercial decision points.
Progress at Venus and Mopane
At the Venus project, located in deepwater offshore Namibia, partners have already defined a clear development concept. Work is currently focused on securing the remaining technical, commercial, and regulatory conditions needed to enable a potential final investment decision (FID) targeted for 2026.
Venus is widely regarded as one of the most significant deepwater discoveries of recent years, and its development could represent a major step forward for Namibia’s offshore industry. The partners are advancing engineering studies, cost optimization efforts, and stakeholder engagement to ensure that the project is competitive, resilient, and aligned with long-term market dynamics.
At Mopane, the focus remains on further exploration and appraisal. An additional campaign comprising three wells is planned to commence in 2026, aimed at expanding the understanding of the discovered resources and reducing subsurface uncertainties. The results of this campaign will be critical in shaping future development concepts and timelines.
Together, Venus and Mopane form the cornerstone of a broader vision to establish Namibia as a new deepwater energy hub in southern Africa.
Leadership Perspectives
Patrick Pouyanné highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership and its role in supporting Namibia’s ambitions.
“Our partnership with Galp marks an important milestone as Namibia prepares to become an important energy-producing nation,” he said. “Together, we are committed to developing the country’s deepwater potential responsibly and efficiently, while building long-term value for Namibia and other stakeholders. By aligning our strengths across both Venus and Mopane, we are laying the foundation for a new energy hub in the region—one that combines operational excellence, local development and shared prosperity.”
Paula Amorim echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the role of partnerships in Galp’s growth strategy and the transformative potential of the Mopane discoveries.
“Solid partnerships are a core pillar of Galp’s growth strategy,” Amorim stated. “The Mopane discoveries represent a transformational opportunity, and partnering with a global deepwater leader like TotalEnergies ensures these resources can be developed efficiently and sustainably for the benefit of Namibia and all stakeholders. Our commitment to Namibia has never been stronger, and we are confident that this geography will emerge as a relevant future global energy ecosystem.”
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