Namibia is poised to be the epicentre of Africa’s energy conversation with the upcoming 3rd Namibia Oil and Gas Conference (NOGC 2025) running from 12–15 August. Under the theme “From Exploration to Action – Positioning Namibia as the Next Energy Frontier,” the event comes at a defining moment in Namibia’s rise as a regional energy powerhouse.
NOGC 2025 aims to attract over 1,000 delegates from more than 50 countries, with over 70 industry experts. The event also features an expanded, high-impact programme that includes a pre-conference Masterclass on local content and supplier development (12 August), a new two-day technical conference (13–14 August), and a Business Matching initiative hosted by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board(15 August) aimed at connecting investors with sector opportunities.
At the helm is Jason Kasuto, Chairperson of the Economic Association of Namibia, the co-host of the conference. We chatted to this highly respected voice in Namibia’s economic development landscape to learn more about the conference.
Can you provide more details about the opportunities for international investors at the NOGC, particularly concerning current foreign direct investment (FDI) in Namibia?
Namibia Oil and Gas 205 will provide an unparalleled opportunity for international investors, looking at Namibia’s oil and gas industry and wanting to understand the lay of the land and the cardinal policy discussions at hand. NOGC will give the necessary insights to make forward-looking decisions, particularly concerning FDI and how Namibia sees it, specifically in the sector.
You’ve described Namibia’s pursuit of oil and hydrogen as complementary paths. How do you envision the infrastructure strategy and investor incentives evolving to manage this energy duality?
When we talk about the pursuit of oil and gas, fossil fuels and cleaner energy such as green power or hydrogen and so forth, we’re talking about the parts that are complementary for Namibia from an infrastructure point of view. Of course, not all infrastructure will be shared, but there should be a level of shared infrastructure across industries.

This also touches on other industries that are concentrated at our ports, for example, the Port of Lüderitz and the Port of Walvis Bay; those towns, as well as the greater part of Namibia, stand to benefit greatly from the infrastructure investments taking place. So, shared common user infrastructure is a definite complementary path and being able to take advantage of that will be to the benefit of the country
You’ve previously mentioned how Oman and West Africa’s strategies for local content policy are good examples to follow, which particular elements of these models most apply to Namibia, and how can they be adapted to fit Namibia’s institutional and economic context?
The examples of Oman and West African countries present lessons of experience for Namibia. It’s important to learn from both the successes and the pitfalls that other nations have encountered.
In both, you’ll find there are some success stories and specifically, success stories where you see local content becoming a sustainable enterprise owned by the people of that country. Providing and receiving technological skills are very important as these skills transfers can serve in rather complex industries.
The Oman in-country value strategy has also been a success in increasing the threshold periodically around the in-country value that has been retained. And I think this must be done with both a very clear path and strategy, as it stands to benefit the investor and the country.
Mr Kasuto is the Chairperson of the Economic Association of Namibia and a member of a high-level panel on the Namibian economy. He’s also the Managing Partner of Monasa Advisory & Associates, a leading strategy firm specialising in Research, Management Consulting, Corporate Finance Advisory and ESG.