The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) together with its joint venture partners, TotalEnergies EP Namibia, QatarEnergy International, and Impact Oil & Gas have engaged in the second phase of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) stakeholder engagement for the development of the offshore oil discovery. The consultations form part of the ESIA process. 

The consultations, which are a legal requirement under Namibia’s Environmental Management Act (2007) and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (2012), are for the proposed Offshore Venus Field Development located in PEL0056/Block 2913B, approximately 320km southwest of Lüderitz. 

“The second round of the consultations provide an opportunity to share and engage with the communities on the outcomes of the studies listed previously and now completed. We value your insights and welcome you to open house exhibitions and/or meetings with formal presentations and Q&A sessions,” Namcor stated in a statement. 

Earlier in 2025, TotalEnergies EP Namibia and its JV partners, together with the environmental consultant (SLR NAMIBIA), successfully concluded the first round of the ESIA consultations, with well-attended and engaging public sessions held in Keetmanshoop, Bethanie, Lüderitz, Oranjemund, Swakopmund, Henties Bay and Walvis Bay. 

These sessions welcomed community members, local authorities, schools, and stakeholders eager to learn more about the proposed project and supported the scoping of the ESIA, highlighting the social and environmental aspects that needed to be studied and incorporated into the ESIA. 

The Draft ESIA Report is available for public review and comment from 3 November until 3 December 2025. The report, compiled by SLR Environmental Consulting (Namibia) in collaboration with Urban Dynamics Africa, details the proposed project’s potential impacts, including atmospheric emissions, marine ecology, socio-economic aspects, and more, as well as identifies mitigation measures to address these impacts.

Meanwhile, about four weeks ago, Namcor, in conjunction with its joint venture partners, announced an update regarding the Volans-1X exploration well on Block 2914A, located under Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) 85 in the offshore Orange Basin.

The partners in the venture are Rhino Resources (as the operator), Azule Energy and Korres Investments. PEL 85 is operated by Rhino Resources with a 42.5% working interest. The other co-venturers are Azule Energy (42.5%), Namcor (10%) and Korres Investments (5%).

The Volans-1X exploration well, spudded on 31 July 2025 using the Northern Ocean semisubmersible Deepsea Mira, reached a total depth of 4 497.5 metres TVDSS on 30 August 2025. The well successfully penetrated the Upper Cretaceous target and encountered 26 metres of net pay in rich-gas condensate-bearing reservoirs. The reservoir shows excellent quality petrophysical properties with no observed water contact.

The laboratory analysis on two samples, taken at the top and base of the reservoir interval, showed a high condensate to gas ratio (CGR) and a condensate density between 40° API gravity. 

Hydrocarbon samples and sidewall cores were collected through wireline logging operations. Further laboratory studies will be carried out on additional fluid samples, sidewall cores, and cuttings collected during the campaign.

This marks the third consecutive hydrocarbon discovery on PEL 85, building on previous results at Sagittarius-1X and Capricornus-1X, and opens up an exciting new play fairway within the licence.

The rig was demobilised on 14 September 2025 to begin drilling in other location, while Volans-1X laboratory testing activities will remain ongoing.

Commenting on the update, Chief Executive, Travis Smithard, stated that “Rhino, on behalf of the PEL85 JV, is delighted to announce the discovery of rich-gas condensate in an excellent quality reservoir at the Volans-1X well. This is our third consecutive hydrocarbon discovery on the block, further enhancing our understanding of the subsurface.

This well result opens up an exciting new play fairway within the license, identifying different reservoir and fluid types in this well, similar to those recently discovered at Sagittarius-1X and Capricornus-1X. Rhino, in collaboration with our partners Azule Energy, Namcor and Korres, will now evaluate the results of the ongoing testing and integrate them into blockwide prospectivity studies.”