Minister of Industrialisation, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse has tabled the Petroleum Amendment Bill in Parliament, transferring management of Namibia's petroleum sector to the Office of the President.

The bill establishes an upstream petroleum unit, streamlines technical oversight, modernises the legal framework, and ensures transparency through annual parliamentary reporting.

"The Petroleum Amendment Bill of 2025 represents a decisive move toward more effective, transparent, and accountable management of Namibia's petroleum sector," Amutse said. "It empowers the state to better oversee exploration and production activities, ensures decisions are made with technical competence, and guarantees Parliament's oversight role."

Opposition MPs criticised the bill for concentrating power in the executive. They argue the National Assembly should retain oversight, with the ministry remaining accountable.

Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani said, "We are giving the rights of the minister to the president. You are only becoming a minister of energy by title, because the power of your ministry will be in the Office of the President."

IPC MP Immanuel Nashinge warned, "The bill proposes a significant transfer of authority from a minister accountable to Parliament to the president and a new director-general appointed by the president. While framed as creating efficiency, this consolidation risks creating a regulatory monolith."

IPC's Ferdinand Hengombe added, "The petroleum bill centralises powers over licensing, regulation, and supervision with the Office of the President, offering Parliament little oversight."

Discussions on the bill continue today.