Namibia and South Africa, the burgeoning gems in Southern Africa, have swiftly emerged as a central focus for E&P players following the basin-opening discoveries. TotalEnergies' significant offshore gas discoveries in Block 11B/12B in the Outeniqua Basin – Brulpadda and Luiperd – have been considered game-changers for South Africa's energy sector, potentially opening a new E&P province in South Africa. Namibia's basin opening discoveries made by Shell and TotalEnergies in 2022 – Graff and Venus – have elevated Namibia to a premier position on the global exploration stage. The subsequent exploration activities in the Orange Basin have borne fruit, with notable discoveries including La Rona-1, Lesedi-1X, Graff-1, Jonker-1X, Mopane-1X, and Mangetti-1X. These promising prospects have sparked a new wave of exploration interests, with international energy companies like Shell, TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy, ExxonMobil, Galp Energia, and others ramping up their exploration efforts. Due to the high success rate in Namibia's side of the prolific Orange Basin, attention is now shifting towards the South African portion. This surge in activity necessitates substantial investment to bring these ambitions to fruition.

Onshore E&P in Namibia and South Africa are also on the rise. Parallel to its hydrocarbon pursuits, Namibia and South Africa has the potential to lead the region in the green energy space. With more than US$10 billion worth of projects in the pipeline, South Africa is expected to dominate the renewables market in Sub Saharan. At the same time, Namibia is also positioning itself at the forefront of the green hydrogen sector, capitalising on its exceptional solar and wind energy potential. Hyphen Hydrogen Energy will spearhead the development of a US$ 10 billion green hydrogen hub at the Tsau Khaeb National Park, aiming to produce 3GW of green hydrogen powered by 5GW wind and solar. Companies looking to expand their footprint and tap into emerging markets should consider Namibia and South Africa's promising opportunities.