New bill going through parliament owes much to entrepreneur’s powers of persuasion and ability to thrive in “impossible” situations.

Despite legal challenges, he believes the nation’s hydrocarbon resources are “potentially so big and could make such a difference to our socio-economic environment, they cannot be ignored”.

A respected figure in southern African upstream circles, Durban-born Lunn and his wife Julie have their hands full with 10-year-old twin boys, also budding entrepreneurs it would seem.

After a decade or so in investment banking, 45-year-old Lunn sharpened his upstream acumen as Impact Oil & Gas’ country manager for South Africa and Namibia, and for seven years was also point man for the Offshore Petroleum Association of South Africa (Opasa) during its tough negotiations with government over upstream legislation.

CONTINUE READING: UPSTREAM ONLINE