Three more oil reservoirs were discovered following the drilling for hydrocarbons in the Mopane well in the offshore Orange Basin. 

Ministry of Mines and Energy Petroleum Commissioner Maggy Shino stated that a droplet size distribution will soon be concluded, while an assessment of not less than four wells is expected to be drilled in 2025. 

Shino announced that Shell delivered a notice that the Enigma well they were drilling as an exploration well has now turned into a discovery. 

This means that the amount of fuel expected from the well has increased.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics and Public Administration is convinced that the Ministry of Mines and Energy is hiding information and documentation on diamond deposits and mining operations in Skeleton Coast Park.

In a report, the committee has recommended that the ministry not renew any mining and exploration licences within the park.

The committee went on an oversight visit to Skeleton Coast Park in August 2023. That mission was tasked with assessing and determining whether there are existing diamond deposits or mining operations taking place.

Deputy Executive Director in the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Gloria Simubali, has led a delegation to the ‘Investing in African Mining Indaba 2024’, which commenced in Cape Town, South Africa, on Monday.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources has called on the Ministry of Mines and Energy to decentralise its operations to better serve small-scale miners in rural areas.

At a meeting in Swakopmund, the MPs emphasised that small-scale miners bear exorbitant costs to travel to Windhoek for services.

Although there are offices of the Mines Ministry in the regions, the parliamentarians argued that such offices are located in towns.

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.

Among other functions, mining inspectors conduct inspections of mining operations and recommend remedial actions.