Equinor has entered Namibia’s Orange Basin after acquiring a 17.4% participating interest in Petroleum Exploration Licence 90 (PEL 90), strengthening its position in one of Africa’s emerging offshore exploration regions.
The agreement with Chevron subsidiary Harmattan Energy gives Equinor access to a drill-ready prospect on Block 2813B, offshore Namibia, with drilling activity scheduled for later this year.
The licence is operated by Chevron, with QatarEnergy holding a 27.5% interest, while Trago Energy and Namibia’s state-owned oil company NAMCOR each hold 10%. Equinor’s acquisition adds another major international energy company to the project’s partnership.
Equinor said the transaction forms part of its strategy to strengthen and replenish its international exploration and production portfolio through focused growth. The company also sees Namibia’s Orange Basin as a promising addition to its broader Atlantic Margin portfolio.
The deal follows exploration activity on PEL 90, including the Kapana 1-X well, which did not deliver commercial hydrocarbons. However, data gathered during the drilling programme has provided additional geological insights that could support future exploration activity on the licence.
With a drill-ready prospect now scheduled for testing, the transaction places renewed focus on the Orange Basin’s offshore exploration potential and Namibia’s growing role in Africa’s upstream oil and gas sector.
