Namibia confirmed a new offshore oil discovery by QatarEnergy in the Orange Basin, strengthening its position as a key exploration hotspot.
The company reported that its Merlin-1X exploration well in Petroleum Exploration License 39 (PEL 39) encountered a significant oil-bearing reservoir.
It said the well delivered highly encouraging geological results, showing light crude oil and strong reservoir quality.
This marks the eighth well drilled in PEL 39 and adds to a series of discoveries that have shifted Namibia into a closely watched exploration frontier in Africa.
QatarEnergy CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said the company welcomed the discovery, noting it follows three earlier finds in Namibia.
Shell, together with QatarEnergy and NAMCOR, also confirmed positive results from the Merlin-1X well in offshore Namibia under PEL 0039, where Shell serves as operator.
The Merlin-1X well, drilled on 8 April 2026, is the tenth in the license area and confirmed the Coniacian formation with the strongest results recorded so far in the block.
It showed good reservoir quality, light oil, and limited associated gas when compared with earlier wells in the area.
QatarEnergy continues to expand its presence in Namibia, holding interests in four offshore exploration licenses.
Alongside its stakes in PEL 56, PEL 91, and PEL 90, the company maintains a 45 percent share in PEL 39, giving it access to about 34,000 square kilometers offshore.
In recent years, major oil companies have increased exploration along Namibia’s coast, especially in the Orange Basin.
Interest grew after multiple offshore discoveries suggested the country could hold large hydrocarbon resources capable of supporting a future oil-producing industry.
source: africa.businessinsider.com
African Energy Council