SOUTH AFRICA — South Africa and Namibia are accelerating energy and mining cooperation to unlock the economic potential of recent offshore discoveries and deepen regional integration, according to South African Co-Chair Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo. Delivering opening remarks at the Senior Officials’ Meeting of the Fourth Session of the South Africa–Namibia Bi-National Commission in Pretoria, Seokolo emphasized the urgent need to strengthen the economic dimension of the bilateral relationship.
The meeting convenes senior officials from both nations to evaluate progress since the Third Session of the Bi-National Commission, which was held in Namibia in October 2023, and to prepare for the upcoming fourth session. Seokolo noted that these deliberations follow a successful Midterm Review conducted in South Africa in November 2025. While the review confirmed considerable progress in implementing bilateral commitments, he stressed that additional efforts are required to meet shared objectives.
“Our principals have made clear the need for greater emphasis on strengthening the economic dimension of our bilateral relations,” Seokolo stated. He urged officials to identify a focused set of high-impact priority projects capable of advancing trade, investment, industrial development, and shared prosperity. He added that the current meeting must build on achieved progress, address areas where implementation has been slower than anticipated, and inject greater momentum into the bilateral programme of cooperation, while also identifying new and emerging areas of partnership.
A primary focus of this renewed cooperation is the development of mineral, petroleum, and gas resources. Seokolo highlighted the vast economic potential of the Orange Basin, which stretches offshore between South Africa and Namibia. He formally congratulated Namibia on its recent oil and gas discoveries, noting the country’s exceptional exploration success. According to Seokolo, 15 of the 17 wells drilled in Namibia’s Orange Basin between February 2022 and mid-2026 resulted in commercial discoveries, representing an approximate 88 percent success rate.
Because the geological formations associated with Namibia’s discoveries extend into South African waters, Seokolo pointed out that this presents a unique opportunity for the two countries to establish a regional energy corridor. Furthermore, he highlighted significant opportunities for collaboration in the mining sector, as both nations share substantial deposits of critical minerals, including rare earth minerals, uranium, copper, lithium, graphite, and manganese. Finalizing a memorandum of understanding on geology and mining is expected to provide a formal framework for technical cooperation, data sharing, and investment promotion.
Beyond energy and mining, Seokolo called for accelerated efforts to maximize the potential of the Trans-Kalahari Corridor. He described it as a strategic trade and transport route that will improve connectivity, facilitate the movement of goods and services, and expand intra-regional trade.
Seokolo expressed confidence that the ongoing discussions will lay a solid foundation for a successful Fourth Session of the South Africa–Namibia Bi-National Commission and foster an even stronger, more prosperous partnership between the two neighboring countries.
