The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources has recommended to the National Assembly that the oil and gas exploration project by ReconAfrica in the Kavango East Region, continue in order for the exploration phase to be completed.
The chairperson of the standing committee, Tjekero Tweya, said this in the NA on Tuesday when he gave feedback on findings on petitions submitted to the standing committee by ‘Save the Okavango’s Unique Life’, civil organisations and ‘Fridays for Future Windhoek’ for oil drilling in that part of the country to be stopped.
Tweya said to obtain all the necessary information and evidence relevant to the petitions, the committee resolved to conduct public hearings, consultative meetings and site visits to ReconAfrica operational areas.
“The oil and gas exploration has overwhelming support among the locals, traditional authorities and nationals at large, thus the committee recommends for the continuation of the exploration project to complete the exploration phase,” he said.
Despite this overwhelming support, Tweya said all future explorations must be done with full and prior approval of land owners, farmers and village communities, and with consent from traditional authorities.
The standing committee recommended that the Ministry of Mines and Energy consider commissioning of a trans-boundary and multi-national strategic environmental assessment for the entire oil development life cycle.
The ministry, he said, should further initiate the establishment of a committee composed of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform and the Ministry of Mines and Energy to ensure proper monitoring of all activities of Recon Africa.
“The ministry should undertake a comparative study to oil-producing countries to benchmark on best practices prior to signing new agreements in case commercial oil is discovered,” Tweya stated.
Going forward, he said the National Petroleum Corporation (Namcor) should, on behalf of government, hold 51 per cent shares of all new companies investing in Namibia’s natural resources to derive maximum benefits.
Meanwhile, the standing committee also recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform should review the mandates of land boards to be more accountable and transparent in executing their duties.
The committee recommended that the 1956 Water Act be repealed in order to address gaps and for it to comply with current trends.
In terms of social responsibility, eight community water wells were drilled and donated with four more in progress.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
