The Namibia Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition (NOGC) 2026 is expected to attract close to 2,000 delegates when it convenes in Windhoek from 18 to 20 August, according to organisers, as the event expands its programme to strengthen local participation, industry collaboration and workforce development in the country’s emerging petroleum sector.
The Economic Association of Namibia (EAN), in partnership with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), said the fourth edition will build on previous attendance levels and broaden engagement among government, operators, investors, SMEs and civil society as Namibia advances its oil and gas agenda.
The pre-conference programme will place a strong emphasis on youth participation and skills development, with a structured “Future Generations” engagement aimed at linking training pathways with industry demand across coastal and operational hubs.
“The conference will once again provide a platform for strategic discussions. Namibia’s energy future will be shaped through collaboration. It requires partnerships between local and international stakeholders, between established operators and emerging enterprises, and between policymakers and communities,” said Jason Kasuto, Chairperson of the Economic Association of Namibia and Managing Director of Monasa Advisories and Associates.
Kasuto added that the sector’s development must be anchored in domestic capacity building and local workforce participation as the industry scales up.
“This year’s conference will be the catalyst for taking real training capacity to where the work will be and to the towns along our coast, so that our young people are equipped, on their own doorstep, with the technical skills this industry demands,” he said.
Meanwhile, Economic Association of Namibia Chief Executive Officer Cons Karamata said the conference theme reflects a shift towards measurable developmental outcomes linked to resource extraction.
“It will be measured by the opportunities created for young Namibians entering the workforce. It will be measured by the growth of local businesses and entrepreneurs. It will be measured by stronger skills, stronger institutions and stronger communities,” Karamata said.
Organisers said NOGC 2026 is positioning itself as a structured platform to align investment, policy and skills development, with a stronger emphasis on localisation, supplier development and long-term participation by Namibian enterprises in the oil and gas value chain as the sector moves closer to commercial production.
For the 2026 edition, organisers have introduced an expanded exhibition floor, additional networking formats and pre-conference engagements designed to deepen industry linkages and improve access for local businesses. These include a golf networking event, masterclasses, speed networking sessions and dedicated local content pitching platforms.
The 2025 edition attracted close to 2,000 delegates and featured 73 exhibition stands, reflecting growing participation across the petroleum value chain.
“The 2025 Namibia Oil and Gas Conference was held in Windhoek under the theme ‘From Exploration to Action: Positioning Namibia as the Next Frontier’. The conference brought together government officials, regulators, international oil companies, investors, financiers, service providers, local businesses, academia and civil society stakeholders to discuss the next phase of Namibia’s rapidly growing petroleum industry,” said Utaara Hoveka, Communications and Public Relations Specialist at NAMCOR.
Hoveka noted that the 2025 conference expanded its technical and policy engagement platform, with structured discussions on procurement, skills development and supplier participation, alongside exploration updates and operational developments from industry specialists.
“The conference also featured an expanded technical programme, where industry specialists presented updates on exploration activities, offshore development plans, trading technologies, production systems and environmental management practices,” Hoveka said.
