Mtundeni Ndafyaalako has been appointed Acting Managing Director of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) with effect from 1 March 2026, as the state-owned oil company enters a new transitional phase.
His appointment follows the conclusion of Maureen Hinda-Mbuende’s tenure as Interim Managing Director, which ends on 28 February 2026 after six months in the role.
The NAMCOR Board of Directors said Ndafyaalako’s appointment will remain in effect pending the outcome of an ongoing recruitment process to fill the position on a substantive basis.
Ndafyaalako currently serves as Executive for Upstream Development and Production. He joined NAMCOR in 2018 as a geoscientist and has since progressed through several technical and leadership roles, including Manager for New Ventures, before assuming his current executive portfolio.
The Board said his experience and institutional knowledge would ensure operational continuity as the corporation advances its upstream strategy amid increased exploration and development activity in Namibia’s oil and gas sector.
He brings nearly two decades of experience in the petroleum industry, both locally and internationally.
Ndafyaalako holds a Master of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance from the Namibia Business School at the University of Namibia and a Master of Science in Petroleum Geology with distinction from the same institution. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Geological Engineering, specialising in petroleum exploration, development and production. In addition, he has completed a Senior Management Development Programme at Stellenbosch Business School.
The Board thanked Hinda-Mbuende for her leadership during her interim tenure, noting her contribution to maintaining stability and advancing the corporation’s strategic priorities during the transition.
NAMCOR plays a central role in Namibia’s upstream petroleum activities, including state participation in offshore developments, as the country positions itself as an emerging oil and gas producer.
