Chevron Doubles Down on Namibia With Second Orange Basin Drill Slated for Late 2026
Chevron has confirmed it will drill a second exploration well on Namibia’s Orange Basin acreage, signalling renewed confidence in one of Africa’s most watched frontier basins — and delivering a significant boost to Namibia’s ambitions as an emerging deepwater oil and gas producer.
Beatrice Bienvenu, Namibia Country Manager at Chevron International Exploration & Production, announced that the company intends to drill the Nabba-1X well on Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) 90 by late 2026. The licence covers 5,433 square kilometres in water depths ranging from 2,300 to 3,300 metres.
“I am excited to share that Chevron is moving into the next phase of our exploration programme. Building on those insights, we expect to drill the Nabba-1X well in PEL 90 in late 2026. This next step is a testament to our confidence in Namibia’s offshore potential and our commitment to thoroughly testing our portfolio. We are here for the long term, and every well we drill strengthens our partnership with this country.” — Beatrice Bienvenu, Namibia Country Manager, Chevron
The Nabba-1X well follows Chevron’s Kapana-1X, which reached total depth ahead of schedule in January 2025 but did not yield commercial hydrocarbons. The JV partnership on PEL 90 includes Harmattan Energy Limited as operator with a 52.5% working interest, QatarEnergy International E&P with 27.5%, and Namibia’s national oil company NAMCOR and Trago Energy each holding 10%.
Namibia’s Minister of Mines, Industries and Energy, Modestus Amutse, welcomed the decision as a vote of confidence in the country’s resource potential and investment climate.
“Chevron’s decision to proceed with a second well in Namibia signals strong confidence in our resource base. The Namibian Government remains committed to constructive engagement with investors to ensure developments align with national interests and deliver meaningful benefits to our economy and our people.” — Modestus Amutse, Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Namibia
NAMCOR Acting Managing Director Mtundeni Ndafyaalako added that the planned well is a key step in securing Namibia’s energy future and unlocking the Orange Basin’s full potential.
The Chevron announcement adds to an already energised Orange Basin, where TotalEnergies is targeting a final investment decision on its Venus discovery in late 2026, Galp is planning an appraisal campaign at Mopane, and joint BP/Eni venture Azule Energy recorded two discoveries in 2025.
Bienvenu also called for continued clarity on the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Amendment Bill of 2025, tabled in parliament in February 2026, and a clear path to lifting the moratorium on new acreage, describing both as essential for companies to commit long-term capital.
Sources: Energy Capital & Power | Namibia Oil & Gas
