• ReconAfrica plans production tests on PEL 73 in the first quarter of 2026
• Tests follow hydrocarbon shows identified at the Kavango West-1X well
• Results will guide next steps in Namibia’s onshore exploration program

Reconnaissance Energy Africa (ReconAfrica) plans to launch production tests in the first quarter of 2026 on the PEL 73 petroleum exploration license, located in the Kavango Basin in northeastern Namibia.

The Canada-based company on December 16 confirmed the start of an evaluation phase that has been prepared for several weeks. This step follows the identification of hydrocarbon shows at the Kavango West-1X well drilled on PEL 73.

No commercial discovery has yet been made on the license area. The planned work aims to determine whether the formations encountered have measurable production capacity, a prerequisite for any continuation of the exploration program.

Drilling at Kavango West-1X identified several geological levels that could contain hydrocarbons, prompting ReconAfrica to consider testing up to eight distinct horizons. The goal is to assess whether these zones can produce hydrocarbons under workable conditions. Such tests are a standard step in regions like the Kavango Basin, where exploration remains at an early stage and geological data are still limited.

The presence of multiple hydrocarbon indicators within a single well supports the case for testing, without prejudging the project’s economic outcome. While Namibia is already active in offshore oil exploration, the country is also assessing its onshore potential, a diversification that comes with technical and environmental constraints.

The production test results will either confirm an exploitable potential, paving the way for additional appraisal drilling, or lead to a recalibration of the exploration program on PEL 73.

Abdel-Latif Boureima