PROMOTING PETROLEUM-EXPLORATION IN NAMIBIA

This article examines the Namibian experience in the formulation of po licy for the promotion of exploration in a frontier petroleum province by international petroleum companies, to determine whether the Namibi an model is suitable for borrowing by other frontier petroleum territo ries in developing countries. After considering the policy and law in place in Namibia at its independence and reviewing the various new pol icy and institutional measures instituted by the government which came into power at independence, the article concludes that the Namibian m odel is worthy of consideration by other frontier provinces in the dev eloping world because of the simplicity of the regime, the fact that i t does not require excessive negotiation and responds to environmental concerns.