The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources says Namibia must urgently strengthen governance and industrial capacity to fully benefit from emerging oil and gas developments.

Its Chairperson, Tobie Aupindi, made the remarks following a benchmarking visit to Ghana earlier this month.

Tobie Aupindi, a member of the Swapo Party, has endorsed the 2025-2026 Appropriations Bill, advocating for more profound structural changes to Namibia's economic structure.

He, however, warned of risks associated with petroleum discoveries and persistent inequalities in market access.

Members of Parliament and stakeholders have expressed worry over the monitoring of mining activities as Namibia only has three mining inspectors.

The Mining Commissioner, Isabella Kandjii-Chirchir, confirmed that the situation is a challenge for the Ministry of Mines and Energy.