Patience Makwele
Oil industry executives have warned that Namibia faces a defining test as the country moves closer to oil production, arguing that discoveries and foreign investment alone will mean little unless the sector translates into jobs, skills and economic opportunities for ordinary Namibians.
The warnings were raised at the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) headquarters in Windhoek on Tuesday during the launch of the fourth Namibia Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, where organisers unveiled the theme, “From Decision to Dividend: Making Namibia’s Oil Work for Namibians.”
According to the organisers, the conference’s theme signals a decisive shift from celebrating offshore discoveries to confronting the tougher challenge of converting petroleum wealth into jobs, business opportunities and skills development.
Economic Association of Namibia chairperson Jason Kasuto said Namibia was entering a critical period that would define whether the country’s oil discoveries become a genuine development story.
“History will ask not how much oil we produced but what we did with it. Did we make this oil work for our people?” he said.
Kasuto said the industry cannot afford to build an oil economy that leaves Namibians watching from the sidelines.
“We will not import a workforce. We will build one here at home. Whether it’s in Lüderitz or Walvis Bay, we are going to build it here.”
His remarks come as the sector awaits several potentially transformative decisions, including a final investment decision by international operators and government’s approval of a local content policy intended to guide Namibian participation in the industry.
Industry representatives said these decisions could be taken before the conference convenes in August.
Namcor’s spokesperson Utaara Hoveka said the country’s petroleum development must benefit all regions and communities.
“This oil and gas cake and its benefits need to spread across all the constituencies of this country,” he said.
Hoveka said last year’s conference demonstrated growing investor confidence in Namibia’s offshore basins, driven by political stability, an attractive investment climate and promising geological prospects.
However, he acknowledged that ensuring local participation remains one of the industry’s biggest challenges.
During the conference, it was revealed that despite billions in foreign direct investment entering Namibia, questions remain about how much of the economic activity is reaching ordinary citizens and whether local businesses possess the standards, skills and certifications required to compete in the emerging industry.
Organisers said this year’s conference will place unprecedented emphasis on local content development, supplier readiness, youth participation and business matchmaking.
The event is also expected to introduce a Namibia Business Readiness Index aimed at assessing how prepared local enterprises are to participate in opportunities emerging across the petroleum value chain.
Economic Association of Namibia chief executive officer Cons Karamata said discoveries and investment announcements alone would not define success.
“The success of this sector cannot be measured solely by discoveries, investment announcements and production figures. Rather, it will be measured by its impact on people’s lives.”
He said future generations would ultimately judge whether Namibia seized this once-in-a-generation opportunity.
“Will future generations look back at this period and say Namibia used this opportunity wisely? Have we done what we were supposed to do in this period?”
The conference is expected to attract around 2,000 delegates, more than 100 exhibition stands and over 1,000 international visitors, highlighting the growing global attention focused on Namibia’s rapidly evolving energy sector.
