IBOV 187,131.51 ▲ 0.88% IPSA 11,271.12 ▼ 0.63% IPC MEX 64,216.98 ▲ 0.46% MERVAL 3,082,333 ▼ 0.07% COLCAP 2,579.41 ▼ 0.34% BVL PERÚ 58,641.32 ▲ 0.83% USD/BRL5.15▼ 0.10% USD/MXN17.14▼ 0.01% USD/CLP953.61▼ 0.37% USD/COP3,098▲ 0.21% USD/PEN3.37▲ 0.38% USD/ARS1,507▼ 0.08% USD/UYU40.22▲ 3.15% USD/PYG5,950▲ 3.78% USD/BOB10.92▼ 9.64% USD/DOP58.60▲ 2.80% USD/CRC444.45▲ 1.90% USD/GTQ7.62▲ 3.09% USD/HNL26.85▲ 3.31% USD/NIO36.62▲ 2.77% USD/VES840.10▼ 0.13% USD/PAB1.00— 0.00% USD/BZD2.00— 0.00% USD/JMD 157.28 — 0.00% USD/TTD6.71▲ 2.05% EUR/BRL5.94▲ 0.22% BRENT 88.88 ▼ 0.03% WTI 83.11 ▼ 0.11% IRON ORE 161.91 — — COPPER 6.61 ▲ 0.03% GOLD 4,461 ▲ 1.78% SILVER 65.59 ▲ 1.26% SOY 1,184 ▲ 3.20% CORN 480.50 ▲ 10.02% WHEAT 655.00 ▲ 3.93% COFFEE 317.25 ▼ 5.51% SUGAR 16.43 ▼ 1.79% ORANGE JUICE 138.55 ▼ 0.47% COTTON 85.03 ▲ 2.33% COCOA 5,719 ▲ 3.18% BEEF 223.60 ▼ 3.93% CATTLE 339.10 ▼ 3.16% LITHIUM 75.20 ▲ 1.47% PETR4 41.64 ▼ 0.05% VALE3 72.97 ▲ 0.83% ITUB4 38.60 ▼ 1.03% BBDC4 16.85 ▲ 0.36% ABEV3 14.89 ▼ 0.80% BBAS3 19.37 ▲ 0.47% B3SA3 14.26 ▼ 0.21% WEGE3 47.59 ▲ 0.49% PRIO3 59.14 ▼ 0.19% SUZB3 41.33 ▲ 2.35% RENT3 34.68 ▼ 0.09% AZZA3 15.89 ▼ 2.63% CSAN3 3.22 ▼ 1.83% RAIZ4 0.25 — 0.00% PCAR3 2.75 ▼ 0.36% GMAT3 3.65 ▼ 1.08% PSSA3 48.13 ▼ 0.54% CVCB3 1.33 ▼ 2.92% POSI3 3.36 ▲ 2.44% SLCE3 13.34 ▲ 0.30% NATU3 8.14 ▼ 0.73% IBOV 187,131.51 ▲ 0.88% IPSA 11,271.12 ▼ 0.63% IPC MEX 64,216.98 ▲ 0.46% MERVAL 3,082,333 ▼ 0.07% COLCAP 2,579.41 ▼ 0.34% BVL PERÚ 58,641.32 ▲ 0.83% USD/BRL 5.16 ▲ 0.01% USD/MXN 17.06 ▼ 0.24% USD/CLP 913.98 ▲ 0.04% USD/COP 3,140 ▲ 0.03% USD/PEN 3.36 ▼ 0.66% USD/ARS 1,493 ▲ 0.10% USD/UYU 40.27 ▲ 1.24% USD/PYG 5,939 ▲ 1.68% USD/BOB 11.64 ▼ 0.76% USD/DOP 58.34 ▲ 1.25% USD/CRC 445.92 ▲ 0.89% USD/GTQ 7.62 ▲ 2.21% USD/HNL 26.79 ▲ 1.57% USD/NIO 36.62 ▲ 0.69% USD/VES 762.44 ▼ 0.13% USD/PAB 1.00 — 0.00% USD/BZD 2.00 — 0.00% USD/JMD 157.28 — 0.00% USD/TTD 6.70 ▲ 0.61% EUR/BRL 5.95 ▲ 1.01% BRENT 88.88 ▼ 0.03% WTI 83.11 ▼ 0.11% IRON ORE 161.91 — — COPPER 6.61 ▲ 0.03% GOLD 4,461 ▲ 1.78% SILVER 65.59 ▲ 1.26% SOY 1,184 ▲ 3.20% CORN 480.50 ▲ 10.02% WHEAT 655.00 ▲ 3.93% COFFEE 317.25 ▼ 5.51% SUGAR 16.43 ▼ 1.79% ORANGE JUICE 138.55 ▼ 0.47% COTTON 85.03 ▲ 2.33% COCOA 5,719 ▲ 3.18% BEEF 223.60 ▼ 3.93% CATTLE 339.10 ▼ 3.16% LITHIUM 75.20 ▲ 1.47% PETR4 41.64 ▼ 0.05% VALE3 72.97 ▲ 0.83% ITUB4 38.60 ▼ 1.03% BBDC4 16.85 ▲ 0.36% ABEV3 14.89 ▼ 0.80% BBAS3 19.37 ▲ 0.47% B3SA3 14.26 ▼ 0.21% WEGE3 47.59 ▲ 0.49% PRIO3 59.14 ▼ 0.19% SUZB3 41.33 ▲ 2.35% RENT3 34.68 ▼ 0.09% AZZA3 15.89 ▼ 2.63% CSAN3 3.22 ▼ 1.83% RAIZ4 0.25 — 0.00% PCAR3 2.75 ▼ 0.36% GMAT3 3.65 ▼ 1.08% PSSA3 48.13 ▼ 0.54% CVCB3 1.33 ▼ 2.92% POSI3 3.36 ▲ 2.44% SLCE3 13.34 ▲ 0.30% NATU3 8.14 ▼ 0.73%
since 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Africa Southern Africa

Namibia’s New Oil Frontier: Galp Energia’s Groundbreaking Discovery

By · April 24, 2024 · 2 min read

Africa Intelligence

One email, every weekday morning. African markets, politics and business — filed from our newsroom in Rio.

Yesterday’s subject line: “The Ebola vaccine doesn't work on this one”

Free. We send a confirmation link first — nothing arrives until you click it. Unsubscribe with one click in any edition. If you stop opening us for 30 days we stop sending by ourselves, as we assume the interest is no longer there. See our privacy policy. We never share your email.

Amidst the vast, unyielding expanse of the Atlantic off the coast of Namibia, a narrative of opportunity and economic transformation unfolds.

Galp Energia, a Portuguese oil titan, recently revealed a groundbreaking discovery in the Mopane field, forecasting an astonishing reserve of up to 10 billion barrels of oil.

This weekend’s announcement marks a pivotal advancement for Namibia, poised to reshape its energy sector and economic future.

The discovery stemmed from rigorous tests conducted in January and March at the Mopane-1X and Mopane-2X wells.

The findings were striking: vast columns of light oil nestled in pristine reservoir sands, stretching the production capacity to its peak of 14,000 barrels per day.

Namibia's New Oil Frontier: Galp Energia's Groundbreaking Discovery
Namibia’s New Oil Frontier: Galp Energia’s Groundbreaking Discovery.
One-stop reference
Company Intelligence
Every listed company in Latin America — financials, ownership and structure for 1,450+ companies across 26 exchanges, in one place.
Browse the directory →
RT
Ask Rio Times
17 years of Latin America reporting, on demand.
Open the full Ask Rio Times →

In addition, this colossal potential situates the Mopane field as a beacon of commercial viability.

Galp holds an 80 percent stake in Petroleum Exploration License 83, covering about 10,000 square kilometers of the Orange Basin.

This area, teeming with energy prospects, also draws interest from global giants such as Shell and TotalEnergies. This enhances its strategic significance in the international energy arena.

This significant oil reserve positions Namibia on the brink of becoming Africa’s fourth-largest oil producer in the coming decade.

The implications ripple beyond immediate economic benefits, promising to elevate Namibia’s stature on the global stage.

Galp’s Discovery in Namibia

Galp’s venture could spawn new revenue streams, augmenting its portfolio, which includes projects in Brazil and Mozambique.

Furthermore, the strategic impact of this discovery extends to geopolitical spheres, attracting attention from the OPEC+ cartel amid shifts in global alliances.

This positions Namibia as a potential new member, highlighting its ascending role in the energy domain.

Galp’s announcement signifies more than corporate success; it heralds Namibia’s potential industrial revolution, fueled by its newfound oil wealth.

As exploration progresses and commercialization nears, Namibia faces a pivotal moment for significant economic and industrial expansion.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error

Part of our ongoing coverage

Africa: The New Scramble — the great-power contest over the continent.

More from Southern Africa

Read More from The Rio Times

The Rio Times · Power Map
See who really holds power in Latin America
Click to open the Power Map

Rotate for Best Experience

This report is optimized for landscape viewing. Rotate your phone for the full experience.