Qatar’s Energy Minister and CEO of the state-owned Qatar Energy, H.E. Eng. Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, has emphasised his nation and company’s commitment to accelerating development, following the announcement of two significant oil and gas discoveries offshore Namibia earlier this year.

This week, H.E. Eng. Al Kaabi visited the country and highlighted how Qatar Energy, the joint venture partner of the Venus X1 and Graff-1 wells where the discoveries were made, is looking to accelerate the development of these oil wells in coordination with project partners.

According to H.E. Eng. Al Kaabi, drilling operations for the discoveries will begin in 2023 to increase transparency regarding the deliverability and capability of the discoveries. The purpose of the trip was to expedite development, and H.E. Eng. Al Kaabi discussed Qatar Energy’s plan for doing so with Namibia’s Minister of Mines and Energy, H.E. Tom Alweendo.

Eng. Al Kaabi said: “We are trying to expedite that as fast as possible to ensure we can get the development finalized.”

“These developments always take years to develop, it is not something that can be done very fast and this is deep offshore development, so it has its complications.”

“The talks during the visit concerned bilateral relations and cooperation between Qatar and Namibia in the field of energy and ways to further strengthen them. The talks also focused on Qatar Energy’s plans as the largest international shareholder in the Orange Basin coastal zone and its partners in relation to the recently discovered significant Venus and Graff deposits, including prioritizing their development and further research.”

When these discoveries are developed, Qatar Energy will be able to add to its already robust upstream portfolio, and Namibia will be able to bring vital oil and gas supplies online that will help the southern African region’s energy problems.