ReconAfrica has faced strident criticism from Namibian environmentalists and communities, but has the government's backing to continue drilling in vast acreage it holds with environmental authorization to drill up to 12 wells.
"We've actually monitored animal movements... and it's very, very low... this is a pristine environment, we recognise that, and our philosophy internally is no injuries, no spills, no waste and that's what we plan to do," Reinsborough said in some of his first comments to international media since his appointment in August.
The Okavango Delta, shared by Botswana and Namibia, is one of the very few major river delta areas that does not flow into a sea but drains into the sands of the Kalahari desert. Reinsborough said the company will start a new 4-6 well drilling campaign early next year, after an initial set of wells proved the existence of an active petroleum system with an estimated 2 billion barrels of oil and 30 trillion cubic feet of gas.