Petroleum Bill
Amupanda raises concerns over proposed shift in petroleum powers
Amupanda questions proposed changes to Namibia’s petroleum governance and the transfer of key regulatory powers to the Presidency.
By: Elizabeth Naftal
Member of Parliament Job Shipululo Amupanda has raised concerns over proposed changes to Namibia’s upstream petroleum governance, arguing that the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Amendment Bill, 2025 could concentrate key regulatory powers in the Presidency.
Speaking in the parliament on Wednesday ,Amupanda said the Bill would transfer powers currently held by the Minister to the President and the Director-General, while powers held by the Petroleum Commissioner would be transferred to the Deputy Director-General of the proposed Upstreaokm Petroleum Unit.
“It is about removing powers from one functionary to another functionary,” Amupanda said, arguing that the bill would shift substantial authority from existing petroleum officials to the presidency and its appointed officials.
The Bill proposes the establishment of an Upstream Petroleum Unit under the President, with its officials appointed by the President. Amupanda said this would move powers away from professionals appointed through public processes and place them with officials who are not directly accountable to Parliament.
He also questioned why the amendment does not address what he described as weaknesses in the 1991 Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, particularly provisions relating to royalties, tax concessions and penalties.
Amupanda pointed to the Act’s 12.5% royalty provision and provisions allowing certain petroleum payments to be remitted or excused, arguing that these provisions remain unchanged under the proposed amendment.
He further highlighted the Act’s maximum fine of N$100,000, questioning whether the penalty is adequate for a multibillion-dollar petroleum sector.
“The message is, fail to pay tax, the fine is only N$100 000 and less,” he said.
Amupanda also raised constitutional concerns over the proposed transfer of powers, arguing that parliamentary oversight could be weakened when significant petroleum authority is moved from a ministerial portfolio to officials operating under the Presidency.
He said one possible approach would be to assign the powers to a minister who remains accountable to Parliament, while another would be a comprehensive review of the 1991 Act and the development of new petroleum legislation.
The debate comes as Namibia develops its emerging upstream oil and gas industry, making the regulatory framework governing petroleum licensing, investment, revenue and oversight increasingly important to the sector.
Amupanda added that the proposed legislation should be reconsidered before it is passed.
“This Bill, in its current form and without the suggested changes, cannot be supported,” he said.
