Namibia surpasses South Africa in offshore oil development, securing major discoveries in the Orange Basin with over 20 billion barrels of oil equivalent.
Namibia has accelerated offshore oil exploration in the Orange Basin, outpacing South Africa despite both nations sharing the same petroleum-rich province. The basin, spanning their Atlantic maritime border, holds an estimated 20 billion barrels of oil equivalent, attracting global energy firms with high-potential discoveries.
South Africa, controlling roughly two-thirds of the basin, lags in development due to regulatory and operational delays. Namibia’s rapid progress includes multiple commercial-scale finds, positioning it as Africa’s next major oil producer.
The shift has drawn increased investment into Namibia’s energy sector, while South Africa’s slower pace risks missing near-term production opportunities.