Staff Writer
Namcor and its joint venture partners ReconAfrica and BW Energy have announced successful results from the Kavango West 1X exploration well on petroleum exploration license 73 in onshore Namibia.
The well encountered a gross hydrocarbon section of about 400 metres within the Otavi carbonate formation. Wireline logs and mud log analyses confirmed 64 net meters of hydrocarbon pay.
A further 61 metres of hydrocarbon shows were found in deeper intervals where natural fractures in the limestone reservoir are interpreted to improve hydrocarbon flow.
ReconAfrica, the operator of PEL 73, completed drilling on 29 November 2025, reaching a total depth of 4200 metres.
The well has been temporarily suspended and will be re-entered in the first quarter of 2026 for a production test to determine flow rates and reservoir performance.
The result marks an important step in Namibia’s growing oil and gas sector and strengthens confidence in the potential of the Damara Fold Belt play.
Namcor’s acting managing director, Maureen Mbuende, said the company is encouraged by the well results and what they signal for the country’s energy future.
“We are encouraged by the results from the 1X well and what this represents for Namibia’s oil and gas future. Each discovery brings us closer to realising our vision of harnessing our natural resources responsibly to drive national development and energy security.”
She said the partnership with ReconAfrica and BW Energy shows the value of combining international expertise with local commitment.
“We remain steadfast in ensuring that Namibians benefit meaningfully from the growth of our petroleum sector through skills transfer, employment, and local participation.”
ReconAfrica president and chief executive officer Brian Reinsborough said the company is pleased with the findings.
“ReconAfrica is excited to announce that the Kavango West 1X well has encountered hydrocarbon pay in the Otavi reservoir section. The results from the present well have allowed the company to proceed to a success case evaluation, which includes conducting a production test of prospective intervals to determine deliverability characteristics from the well. We are excited about what the results mean for the future of the Damara Fold Belt play on ReconAfrica’s lease position onshore Namibia, which covers over six million prospective acres.”
Namcor, as the state-owned custodian of Namibia’s petroleum resources, participates in upstream projects as a joint venture partner.
The company says it remains committed to fostering local content, empowering Namibian enterprises and supporting a long-term energy transition and economic growth.
