Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. (ReconAfrica) has launched its most ambitious drilling campaign to date in Namibia, aiming to unlock approximately 365 million barrels of unrisked light to medium oil resources at Prospect I, located within Petroleum Exploration Licence 073 (PEL 73) in the Kavango Basin.
The announcement was made via an official news release from the company on Thursday, April 10, 2025, and obtained by Energy in Africa.
According to the latest prospective resources report by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (NSAI), Prospect I is estimated to contain:
– 365 million barrels of unrisked oil resources
– 32 million barrels of risked oil resources
– 1.9 trillion cubic feet of unrisked natural gas
– 140 billion cubic feet of risked natural gas
Drilling operations are expected to commence this quarter, following the completion of pre-construction activities and pre-drill evaluations.
The planned well will reach a depth of 3,800 meters, targeting the Otavi carbonate section, estimated to be between 1,500 and 1,800 meters thick.
Insights from the earlier Naingopo exploration well—which encountered more than 50 meters of reservoir-quality carbonates and strong oil shows—have enhanced ReconAfrica’s geological understanding of the Damara Fold Belt, guiding its current drilling strategy.
Prospect I is the largest site in the company’s exploration programme in Namibia, which has attracted foreign direct interests since late last year.
The company, which is listed on the Toronto, Frankfurt, Namibian, and U.S. stock exchanges, holds exploration rights over 8 million contiguous acres across northeastern Namibia and northwestern Botswana.
ReconAfrica reaffirms its commitment to environmental stewardship, aligning with global ESG standards to minimize ecological impacts in the Kavango region, a known environmentally sensitive area.
The Canadian oil and gas firm focuses on the Damara Fold Belt and Kavango Rift Basin within the Kalahari Desert.
In January 2025, ReconAfrica reported multiple indicators of oil from its Naingopo well, in contrast to recent setbacks for major competitors
In comparison, Chevron recently confirmed that its exploration activities in Namibia’s Orange Basin yielded no commercially viable oil or gas, while Shell announced it would write down $400 million from an offshore discovery it also deemed commercially unviable.
As drilling at Prospect I progresses, ReconAfrica aims to validate its geological models and unlock the hydrocarbon potential of the Kavango Basin, reinforcing Namibia’s rising profile as a key player in Africa’s energy landscape.
