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