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Sintana Energy Brings Orange Basin Exposure to AEW 2026 as Mopane Drilling Nears
Sintana Energy, a Canada-based exploration company focused on the Atlantic margin, will participate as a Bronze Sponsor at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, taking place from October 12-16 in Cape Town. The sponsorship comes as the company's flagship position in Namibia's Orange Basin advances toward a multi-well drilling campaign following a fresh resource upgrade at the Mopane complex.
At AEW 2026, Sintana is expected to outline its Namibia exploration strategy and its carried-interest model. The structure gives the company exposure to some of the basin's most prospective acreage while operators fund onsite drilling. Sintana holds indirect interests across five petroleum exploration licenses (PELs) in Namibia along with assets in Colombia's Magdalena Basin.
The centerpiece is PEL 83, home to the Mopane discoveries that helped establish the Orange Basin as one of the world's most prospective exploration frontiers. The license partners recently revised 3C contingent resources up 57% to 1.38 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe), lifting Sintana's net indirect share to roughly 67 million boe. Sintana holds an effective 4.9% carried interest in the block through its 49% stake in Custos Energy.
Sintana’s exploration play increased in value in December 2025, when momentum on the license accelerated. TotalEnergies agreed to take over as operator and acquire a 40% participating interest from Galp, which previously operated the block. The transaction is subject to Namibian regulatory and partner approvals and is expected to close later this year.
The expanded partnership has committed to a three-well exploration and appraisal campaign beginning in the second half of 2026, with a final investment decision targeted for 2028 and first oil for 2032. TotalEnergies has flagged further upside from a possible inboard extension of Mopane and two newly identified prospects, Quiver and Sobreiro. Sintana is fully carried on the cost of the upcoming wells by TotalEnergies and Galp.
Beyond PEL 83, Sintana holds an indirect 10% working interest in PEL 90, operated by Chevron with QatarEnergy as a partner. Chevron plans to drill the Nabba-1X well there by late 2026. The company has also moved to deepen its presence in Namibia, announcing plans to list on the Namibian Stock Exchange. The move is a step toward broader local ownership of the country's emerging oil and gas sector.
“Sintana's growing footprint in the Orange Basin shows how a focused, well-structured player can unlock value in Africa's frontier basins alongside the world's largest operators,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Its move to list locally reflects the kind of homegrown participation Namibia has prioritized in its oil and gas sector buildout.”
As a Bronze Sponsor at AEW 2026, Sintana is expected to feature in discussions on frontier exploration, Orange Basin development and the financing models that let junior companies share in large-scale discoveries.