The Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy has reaffirmed to the National Assembly that decisions related to upstream petroleum activities remain firmly within the Ministry.

The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) has refuted reports of supplying substandard fuel to Botswana and local markets.
 
The company stated that claims published in a local newspaper are incorrect and malicious. 

The Head of the Upstream Petroleum Unit, Kornelia Shilunga, said that the Namibian government will enforce a strict upstream petroleum local content policy to ensure the country's discovered oil translates into real benefits to all Namibians.

Former NamCor Managing Director Immanuel Mulunga was arrested this morning, alongside three other senior officials of the state-owned petroleum company.

ACC Director General Paulus Noa confirmed the arrests and told NBC News that further arrests are expected during the week.

The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) says there is huge potential for more hydrocarbon or petroleum discoveries to be made in Namibia, with both land and offshore areas underexplored.

The Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, says there is a need to create an environment where Namibians can have local ownership of investment in the mining and petroleum sectors.

Alweendo was speaking at the Debmarine Stakeholder Breakfast Meeting in Windhoek today.

Namibia still has a journey of at least four years before it is expected to produce its first commercial oil, from reserves discovered in the Kavango Basin.