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.

He explained that in order for Namibians to benefit economically from these sectors, it is necessary to first determine where the resources are located (exploration).

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.

The Petroleum Commissioner in the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Maggie Shino suggested this at the second edition of the Namibia University of Science and Technology's lecture series on petroleum activities in Namibia.

Shino says additional drilling will start as soon as next month and results of tests into commercial viability are expected within months.