Mopane Field Resource Estimate Surges 57% as Namibia Offshore Potential Expands

Estimated oil and gas resources at Namibia’s offshore Mopane field have seen a substantial 57% increase, as reported by Sintana Energy on March 30, citing Galp Energia’s 2025 integrated report. The Mopane field, situated in Block PEL 83, is under development with TotalEnergies acting as the operator.

Resource Estimates and Classification

This updated estimate incorporates new geological and seismic data, alongside findings from exploration wells drilled within the block. Galp clarified that these figures represent “contingent resources”—high-end projections of potentially recoverable volumes that have not yet been classified as proven reserves. Specifically, the 3C contingent resource estimate has risen from 875 million barrels of oil equivalent to 1.38 billion barrels, indicating a notable upgrade in potential. Broader assessments suggest the total volumes of oil equivalent within the entire PEL 83 license area could be significantly higher, with Reuters reporting estimates of up to 10 billion barrels in April 2024. However, only a fraction of this is considered recoverable at this stage.

Future Development and Investment Challenges

This revised estimate comes as the project partners prepare to escalate exploration efforts. A key aspect of further development was outlined when Galp agreed in December 2025 to sell half of its 80% stake in Mopane to TotalEnergies, linking continued progress to additional evaluation work. This evaluation includes a new drilling campaign, planned to commence in 2026, with the objective to collect more data, confirm resource volumes, refine geological understanding, and ultimately mitigate development risks. For some time, the project faced challenges in attracting additional investors due to uncertainties. Despite the field’s evident potential, Galp had difficulty securing a partner to share capital investment, particularly within the context of multiple other oil and gas discoveries made across Namibia’s Orange Basin since 2022.