A strong legal framework for midstream infrastructure is essential to ensure that Namibia maximizes economic benefits, attracts investment, and builds a sustainable energy industry
SANDTON, South Africa, June 20, 2025/APO Group/ --
By Rachel Mushabati, Senior Associate Attorney & Country Head – CLG Namibia (www.CLGGlobal.com)

From Discovery to Delivery: Building a Legal Framework for Namibia’s Midstream Infrastructure (by Rachel Mushabati)
Namibia’s recent offshore oil discoveries mark a pivotal moment in the country’s energy sector. With major players such as Shell, TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy, and Galp uncovering significant reserves, Namibia is poised to become a key oil producer. However, while exploration and production activities have gained momentum, the midstream sector; involving transportation, storage, and refining of petroleum, remains underdeveloped.
A strong legal framework for midstream infrastructure is essential to ensure that Namibia maximizes economic benefits, attracts investment, and builds a sustainable energy industry. CLG Legal and Business Advisory, with its extensive advisory experience across Africa, is uniquely positioned to support this transition. CLG has advised on midstream regulatory frameworks, infrastructure structuring, and investment promotion strategies in various jurisdictions, and brings this expertise to the Namibian context.
Understanding Midstream Infrastructure and Its Importance
Midstream infrastructure serves as the critical link between oil extraction and the end consumer. This includes pipelines, refineries, storage facilities, and specialized port infrastructure that facilitate the transportation of crude oil and natural gas. Without adequate midstream infrastructure, Namibia risks becoming an exporter of raw crude without capturing additional value through processing and distribution. A robust midstream sector can boost job creation, industrial development, and energy security, making it a strategic national priority.
Market studies from other African producers have shown that well-developed midstream infrastructure can contribute up to 30% more in local value addition compared to direct crude exports.[1] In Ghana, for instance, domestic refining and pipeline infrastructure contributed significantly to its GDP growth in the petroleum sector between 2016–2022. Namibia has the opportunity to tap into similar economic potential.[2]
Existing Legal Framework and Gaps
Namibia’s petroleum sector is primarily governed by the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act 2 of 1991 and the Petroleum Products and Energy Act 13 of 1990. These laws focus largely on upstream activities and the regulation of downstream petroleum products. However, there is no dedicated midstream regulatory framework. The absence of clear midstream regulations means there is little guidance on ownership structures, investment incentives, and operational guidelines for pipelines, storage, and refining facilities.
For example, Nigeria’s midstream sector prior to the Petroleum Industry Act (2021) faced significant bottlenecks due to the absence of a clear regulatory framework, particularly regarding third-party access and tariff setting for pipeline infrastructure. These issues led to investor reluctance and underinvestment, which were only addressed after the establishment of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Nigeria Petroleum Industry Act, 2021).
Lessons from Other Oil-Producing Countries
Namibia can draw inspiration from countries that have successfully developed midstream infrastructure through effective regulation. Norway, for example, has established a robust midstream legal framework that ensures state participation in pipelines and refineries while promoting private investment.[3] Ghana has a dedicated Petroleum Midstream Regulatory Authority that oversees infrastructure development and ensures compliance with environmental and safety standards. Similarly, Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (2021) introduced the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, which provides clear guidelines on pipeline ownership and operations.
The Role of Key Stakeholders in Strengthening Namibia’s Legal Framework
To unlock the full potential of the midstream sector, coordinated action is required among various stakeholders:
- Government Ministries and Regulators: Responsible for drafting legislation, setting environmental and safety standards, and issuing licenses.
- Private Sector and Investors: Bring in capital and technical expertise, while also needing legal certainty to invest confidently.
- State-Owned Entities: Can serve as infrastructure operators and strategic partners in public-private partnerships.
- Civil Society and Communities: Essential for ensuring environmental accountability and social license to operate.
- Legal Advisory Firms: Provide technical assistance in drafting laws, structuring transactions, and navigating policy reform.
Strengthening Namibia’s Midstream Legal Framework
To address the existing gaps, Namibia must develop a comprehensive legal framework that clearly defines the governance of midstream activities. A dedicated Midstream Act would be a crucial first step, providing legal certainty on pipeline infrastructure, refineries, storage, and transportation. Encouraging public-private partnerships can drive midstream development while ensuring local participation. Establishing an independent regulatory authority will help enhance transparency, streamline approvals, and enforce compliance.
Additionally, Namibia should implement policies that prioritize local employment and skills transfer, ensuring that midstream investors contribute to national workforce development. Environmental and safety standards must also be strengthened to mitigate risks associated with pipeline integrity, spill prevention, and emergency response. To further attract investors, tax breaks, duty exemptions, and streamlined licensing processes should be introduced to make Namibia a more competitive destination for midstream infrastructure development.
Conclusion
For Namibia to fully capitalize on its oil discoveries, it must establish a strong midstream legal framework that facilitates the efficient transportation, storage, and processing of petroleum resources. Without this, the country risks losing significant economic value and remaining dependent on crude exports.
By adopting best practices from other oil-producing nations and implementing strategic legal reforms, Namibia can create a thriving midstream sector that benefits both investors and citizens alike. CLG stands ready to support this transformation, leveraging its pan-African expertise in midstream regulation, infrastructure development, and legal advisory. Our team has been instrumental in shaping midstream legal regimes across West and Central Africa, and we are committed to helping Namibia build a regulatory foundation that supports sustainable growth and long-term prosperity.
[1] Ruben, R., Kuijpers, R., & Dijkxhoorn, Y. (2022). Mobilizing the Midstream for Supporting Smallholder Intensification. Land, 11(12), 2319. https://apo-opa.co/4ngI2bu
[2] Oxford Business Group. “Ghana's energy production targets and exploration attract investment”. Retrieved from https://apo-opa.co/4kUZQHu.
[3] Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (2021). 'Midstream Regulatory Framework and Investment Guidelines'.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of CLG.
The Somali PM statement sounds a theatricals rehearsal. He hasn't provided any solution to this outrighteous problem. Let's face it folks, 1700 displaced women have been victims of a sexual rape over short period of 11 months which comes out ~ 154 women got raped every month last year alone in a city that's roughly about the size of Hargeisa, Somaliland, plus 18 media workers were also gunned down during the same time frame, yet, Mr. Shirdon doesn't see it a huge concern but his latest political rhetoric was an intent to appease and mislead the furious international partners, so, the international aid assistance to Somalia doesn't get disturbed ….a typical short sighted Somali politician, isn't he?
So you expect the Somali President to solve all the problems within months? The guy clearly outlined what he wants to achieve, and so far he done amazingly well, compared to the 20+ years of waste peace you had. Pleas before jou judge others, take a good look at yourself what you have achieved.
"154 women got raped every month last year alone in a city that's roughly about the size of Hargeisa, Somaliland"
KKKKKKKK Mogadishu is about the size as bosaso,hareisa,kismayo and galkacyo put together. i knew you never been to Mogadishu but i thought you knew how to google. the 5 major clans in Somalia roughly, every major clan have/had at-least 10000 houses in the Somali capital. tell us about hargeisa ?
on another note the time to blacken Somalia is over mr Qaal. the world sees Somalia as success story now. the west is following Somalia model to stabilize countries like Mali. Somalia is back again and no clan out of the 5 major clans can stand in front of the nation. we will simply crush it harder than ever mark my words. we are a sovereign nation. our borders are recognized from the Indian ocean to Djibouti Ethiopia and Kenya and we will not give an inch to a ny renegade tribe period.
Gedo,
With all due respect, 10,000 houses X 5 major clans equates 500,000 houses in Mogadishu.
Well, that isn't a lot, would't you say so?.. I don't know the precise figures but I would assume there should be 500,000 houses in Hargeisa, before even about to be built vacant lots are not factored in
So, It was a bit of an exaggeration on my part that Mogadishu is roughly the same size as Hargeisa is.. One should bear in mind, however, Mogadishu had gone through a hell of an unimaginable and difficult time where it's own residents indiscriminately knocked down buildings by using unsupervised military artillery in order to obtain scrap metals in exchange for petty cash just to get by…
sorry! I meant 50,000 houses….
"atleast" 10000 means minimum not maximum of course ! common sense in needed here of course.
some major clans like Der may had less houses in the capital than darood for example. hawie could have more houses than darood. the moral of the story is every clan had a huge present in the capital and no other town comes close even my beloved Kismayo.
present= presence kkkk
Gedo whats good my friend have you heard your friend Hiiraale http://saadaalnews.com/2013/02/03/dhagayso-col-ba… still believing in the OG led Jubbaland iniative ?
Irir
jubbaland is none of your business worry about how to make an administration in hiiran and galguduud that is if we allow!!!!!! since we occupy large swats of of galguduud.
Hiiraale time is finished just like yalahow and indhacade kkk update me what awlibaax says and madowe and that will be a game changer addios.
lol talking about oversensitive + this also confirms that you're not a Sade but really a OG
Mr OG hows Kismaayo going ? matter facts just read this http://addisstandard.com/?p=1817 your masters IGAD has left you to the mercy of Mogadishu
for osamn qaal
Mr Shirtdoon Saaqid made his money from the dirty Khad trade which he has been involved in since 1991. This man profiteered from the already starving Nation of Somalia by transporting from Kenya to Somalia not food for the hungry but Drugs for the Warlords and addicts for the last 21years. If you believe he has any intention of correcting any problems in the nations then his past would have been paved with acts of kindness and a record of duty to his people during their years of hardship.
This man i more likely to look for ways of making money of a problem then fixing the problem at hand. Him, his boss and the entire Damu-Jadiid crew have profiteered from Somalia-Italia's suffering since the Collapse of Siyad's dictatorship. Hassan Mahamoud the Selected president through the road-map process, Shirtdoon Saaqid and the speaker Jawahira are all members of Damu-Jadiid an organised mafioso of people that profiteered from the collapse of Siyaad' barre's government in South and central Somalia. These men were the movers and shakers of society by controlling Food-Aid, education and arms smuggling. It is no surprise to anyone that members of Damu-Jadiid majority of whom have never left the war zone since 1991 have been able to survive against all odds the likes of Ali Mahdi era of Warlords, Islamic courts era, Selected Presidents of 17 international conferences, Ethiopian invasions, Kenyan invasions and lastly Shabab who had 80% control over the territory of the road-map aka Somalia-Italia-territory. The top three men in the Road-Map government have survived every threat since 1991 while they still made their millions untouched???
Mr Shirtdoon saaqid just like his two other friends Hasan Mahamoud and Jawahira have proved one thing they will survive against all odds to remain the profiteers when their 2-terms in office concludes in the year 2020. Only this time they will have siphoned off $Billions in the Aid-money that has made them rich in the past.
They have moved up a scale in their profit from collapse business models 🙂
Let us not expect them to reduce the rape rates as they create a total deterioration of civil trust and the expectation that SELECTED few can ever change a rotten society whose Majority are beyond redemption.
We are 21 years too late to revive this dead donkey, in a society 60% of the population are under 25. In a society with Majority of the mothers have been molested, in a society where majority of the males over 15 have either killed another or committed rape the decay in the social fabric is beyond repair. The situation is beyond a point where total TRUST can be given to profiteers to even know how to formulate a recovery plan. These men are totally desensitized to other's suffering and they believe they will always be beyond reproach. These same men that continue to take credit for the effort of foreigners like Amisom and the various NGOs who feed the 1.5Million idps in Muuqdishu. Do we honestly believe it is these men who will create a repatriation plan to bring home the population of Somalia-Italia from Yemen, Dadaab, Dollo ado, Djibouti, Somaliland, Uganda and the rest of Africa?
Damu-Jadiid are a group that have survived by making deals with the devil so to speak and they have a particular skill in turning a blind-eye to the suffering of the poor population and as such please forgive me if i laugh at any comments that slip out from those crocodile cracks Damu-Jadiid members cry on their arse faces.
Gosh, Buuxiye, you sure are willing to lie to make a point. Keep lying Buuxiye, remember, it will not hurt Mr Shirdoon nor will it hurt anyone but you.
Buuxiye
shirtdoon saaqid kkkkkkkkkkk that was good one i dont like calling men woman names though is not funny like when you said jawahira is childs oh well you are Buuxiye
That Jawaar dude looks like an individual that has been a life long alcoholic recently released from a mental institution he should be so lunch that i even mention his stupid name.
So buuxiye, you judge people by looks instead by merit? Hahahaha. pleas stop embarrassing yourself.
cheap taxation imposed on Qat is a root cause for the ever increasing Qat consumption in Somaliland http://www.thebridgem.com/index.php?option=com_co…
I've told you many many times don't be a hypocrite its a known fact you secessionist chew the most
Khat-chewing "contributes to rise in Burao TB patients" http://www.irinnews.org/Report/90564/SOMALIA-Khat…
all of you who commented are man and all of you know I am a onions.but not this issue Somali woman has been treated worst than dog in every conflict dating to back century and any clan that gets the end of the short stick. when they get chance to get back who ever their angry was toward to the first thing they do is to violated woman's of the other group .having said all that the current t time and difficult situation Somali woman who live hamar and the surrounding area is one frightening nightmare and I will explain to you why. My brother went there with some NGO just one month ago. what he saw was horrific and appalling and the average individual Somali wouldn't likely see. it was testimonial and the condition our sister are in heart wrenching and what they have to face everyday and the worst thing is who's doing to them. the people they hired to keep the peace. another word the police and soldiers and all of the have Somali faces. So gedo we got epidemic going on and we need to start tackling the problem head on and not sweep under the rug and the prime minister statement lack the seriousness that it need to be dealt with it. and the respond of our new government is this kind of lackluster and downright insulting god help us all.
Buuxiye
This same so called prime minister was running a branch of the government of afweyn. He was simple kept incharge in that branch due to his tribal affiliation to afweyn and that’s how he got his first riches.
This are the same people who stole xoolo umaada somaliyeed in the first place hence what do you think should be expected of him and his linch pins.
They are there to enrich themselves further on the account of the poor walaanweyns.
We somalilanders should learn from these and unite against all our enemies starting with the cyber crooks. Long life Somaliland.
shut up you idiot.
Ceeb Sahra
Somali women should unite first and foremost to end injustice. Us men might have our issues but there is no reason why women who have no real clan loyalty should take part in the conflicts. Real Unite of somali people should start at the home with the mothers who are teaching their kids about clan-loyalty.
The Somali conflict could easily be blamed on the women in society who raise their sons with hate for other clans. the love begins with the sisters and only then will the next generation have the right attitude to think above clanistic warfare.
It is starts with you Sahra so stop swinging to Saado Calis hate songs and teach the peace and love from today!
🙂 good luck and don't be a victim of what you teach your child.
If had any good intention then you would have included Hodan too. But sadly your intentions were not good as always Buuxiye.
Same can be said about Silanyo till he got fired and in return formed the SNM don't pick and choose either tell the whole story or hold your mouth
matter of facts silayno was even in a better position to benefit from Barre: Minister of Planning and Coordination (1969–1973), the Minister of Commerce (1973–1978 and 1980–1982), and the Chairman of the National Economic Board (1978–1980)
What about your former President Riyale (the former head of the NSS north-west Somalia section) who is responsible for torturing your own people? If you had any brain then you would have spoken up against him and the many so called leaders of yours who were part of the regime, who went against for personal reasons rather than the so called interest of your people as they state. Retards like you will never reach somewhere.
Kkk
Rape cases are on the rise in Somaliland year after year 4,000 reported in 2011 http://sabahionline.com/en_GB/articles/hoa/articl…
SGBV on rise in Hargeisa IDP camps http://www.irinnews.org/Report/94775/SOMALIA-SGBV…
?????