The Namibian government wants the partnership with Qatar Energy to go beyond the exploration stage.

Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, Qatari Minister of State for Energy, paid a courtesy call on President Hage Geingob at State House. 
Qatar Energy, through partnerships with Total Energies and Shell, has made substantial oil discoveries from offshore drilling in the Orange Basin.

Last month, the two companies announced that the oil discoveries are of commercial quantities and are projected to be in the range of one billion barrels.

The Qatari Minister says two more wells are expected to be drilled next year as part of the appraisal process which precedes the development and submission to the government 

The Namibian government wants a lasting impact from the new industry.

It is therefore pushing for the agreements to expand beyond the oil exploration stage.

The Qatari Minister and his delegation were in Namibia for a courtesy visit, given the substantial investments the Gulf state is making in the oil and gas industries.