Environment minister says president won’t be issuing petroleum licences

Minister of environment and tourism Indileni Daniel this week said the president will not be issuing petroleum licences, as claimed by opposition parties.

Speaking in the parliament during a debate on the petroleum amendment bill on Wednesday, Daniel said the issuing of petroleum licences is an administrative duty.

She said placing the petroleum sector under the Presidency is not unconstitutional or unusual.

Petroleum production and exploration is a strategic national resource that directly affects national security, economic stability and foreign relations, Daniel said.

She said such critical resources require oversight of the highest executive level to ensure coordinated leadership.

Keeping the sector under the Presidency would improve policy coordination, speed up major investment decisions and strengthen investor confidence.

“The amendment bill does not create new powers outside the Constitution, “ she said.

Swapo member Tuulikki Abraham said the decision to transfer certain powers to the Office of the Director General is anchored in the president’s desire to ensure maximum benefit for Namibians.

“Section 3A of the bill requires the Upstream Petroleum Unit to issue an annual public report on upstream petroleum activities.

“This report will provide parliament with sector-wide information on licensing, compliance, operational performance, and regulatory activities, thereby strengthening transparency, accountability, and informed legislative oversight,” she said.

Independent Patriots for Change parliamentarian Aloisius Kangulu, however, rejects the bill.

It raises concerns about the duplication of functions, institutional coherence, national security impediments, legality, accountability, and the long-term stability of governance.

Kangulu said the bill raises more questions than it provides answers.

“I therefore urge this house to reject this unaccountable and unconstitutional bound amendment bill.

“Namibia is all we have. Namibia is not for sale. We must and can save it,” he said.

National Democratic Party leader Martin Lukato said the bill is long overdue.

“The party supports a situation in which the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy takes full responsibility for the operations of the petroleum and oil in the country.

“This means at no time should the exploration of petroleum activities resort under the Office of the President,” he said.

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