Giant Oil Discovery in an Age of Energy Transition 

The discovery of natural resources is often seen as a blessing or a curse, but in practice it brings both opportunities and challenges. Namibia’s recent offshore hydrocarbon discovery illustrates this duality. Production has not begun, yet oil is expected to reshape an economy characterized by inequality, unemployment, and racial segregation. Revenues could fund reforms and infrastructure, but may also deepen inequality, corruption, and environmental degradation. This village invites students to explore how institutions, corporations, communities, and ecosystems intersect in shaping Namibia’s trajectory. The theme is inherently interdisciplinary, requiring insights from across the sciences to understand both risks and opportunities.

Relevant competency

Students from all disciplines are welcome! The topic requires strong analytical skills, critical thinking, creativity, ethics, and a willingness to collaborate across perspectives. Interdisciplinary curiosity and openness to different approaches are essential.

About the village

Namibia’s hydrocarbon discovery provides a timely and concrete entry point into global debates about natural resource governance. Students may choose to examine questions such as: How could natural resource revenues be invested to foster inclusive growth? Can oil production be justified in an age of global warming? How can international oil companies be held accountable to the Namibian population, both in terms of transparency and job opportunities? This village connects cutting-edge research with real-world debates, drawing on sources such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, a Norwegian-based organization. Students will work in teams on applied projects, with freedom to decide which dimensions—social, political, economic, technological, or environmental—they want to emphasize in their analysis. Concurrently, the village supervisor is spearheading a research project in Namibia, which will provide students with access to data, interview subjects, and opportunities for dissemination.

External partners

Given the ongoing research project, we can draw from a rich network of potential partners. These include Namibian researcher, activists, oil company representatives, and independent research institutes. Specifically, the project works closely with The Institute for Public Policy Research in Namibia. Students will be able to access both primary data and to schedule interviews with relevant stakeholders. We will also engage with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, a Norwegian-based organization.

Oral assessment of the project

In this village, the final work consists of an oral presentation of the project and a written process report, which count for 50% each. All EiT villages have the same assessment criteria, which can be found in the document "Formal framework in Experts in Teamwork - a guide for students and teaching staff".