Patience Makwele
More than 60 young Namibians have already secured internships and employment opportunities with international oil and gas companies as the country moves closer to developing its emerging petroleum sector.
The announcement was made at the third Youth in Oil and Gas Summit in Walvis Bay, where the Petroleum Training and Education Fund (PETROFUND) highlighted its efforts to prepare young Namibians to participate in the industry through skills development, training and partnerships with energy companies.
Delivering remarks on behalf of PETROFUND chief executive officer Nillian Mulemi, acting CEO Leorine Waggie said Namibia’s oil and gas future will depend not only on its natural resources but also on developing a skilled workforce capable of competing globally.
“The success of Namibia’s oil and gas industry will depend not only on the hydrocarbons beneath our oceans but also on the skills, knowledge and determination of our people,” she said.
PETROFUND said it has signed more than 10 strategic memoranda of understanding with upstream operators and service companies, creating opportunities for internships, workplace training and employment pathways for young Namibians.
Among the beneficiaries, 23 Namibians have secured permanent employment with TechnipFMC in Namibia, Ghana, Nigeria and France while 13 are currently participating in a second-year on-the-job training programme with SBM Offshore in India.
Three Namibians are permanently employed as remotely operated vehicle (ROV) pilot technicians with Subsea7 and deployed internationally, while three others are undertaking internships in Ghana through Yinson Production Namibia.
The fund added that companies including Halliburton, SLB, Baker Hughes and BW Energy continue to recruit Namibian professionals.
The opportunities come as Namibia prepares for increased activity in the upstream oil and gas sector following major offshore discoveries, creating demand for specialised skills ranging from engineering and geoscience to technical and support services.
Waggie said PETROFUND has invested more than N$250 million in educating and training approximately 500 Namibians through its scholarship programme.
More than 100 graduates have specialised in petroleum and energy-related fields, including petroleum engineering, geophysics, reservoir engineering, subsea engineering, oil and gas finance, oil and gas law, cybersecurity, environmental management and geographic information systems.
The organisation has also expanded support for technical and vocational education and training (TVET), focusing on areas such as oil and gas welding, fitting and turning, roustabout training and roughneck training.
For young Namibians entering the wider energy sector, skills development remains critical as the country explores opportunities across both traditional and renewable energy industries.
Windhoek Vocational Training Centre solar technician trainee Kevin Kevanhu, who spoke to Windhoek Observer earlier this year about Namibia’s renewable energy sector, said young people must prepare themselves through training and industry exposure.
“Young people must position themselves early through skills development and industry exposure,” Kevanhu said.
He said emerging energy industries would require a diverse workforce, with opportunities extending beyond technical roles.
“For young people, this sector creates an entirely new value chain. Opportunities range from renewable energy installation and hydrogen production to engineering, logistics, catering and safety management,” he said.
Back at the summit, PETROFUND encouraged young Namibians interested in the oil and gas sector to register on PetroConnect, its digital CV repository platform designed to connect qualified candidates with companies seeking interns, trainees and employees.
Waggie also announced that applications for the 2027 PETROFUND Scholarship Programme will open in August, with the organisation aiming to support more than 100 Namibians in priority fields.
She urged young people to take advantage of available opportunities and remain committed to building their skills.
“Your performance today will open doors for others tomorrow. Learn as much as you can, embrace every challenge and strive to become ambassadors of Namibian talent wherever you work,” she said.
As Namibia’s energy sector develops, PETROFUND said preparing young people remains central to ensuring that the country’s natural resources translate into meaningful opportunities for its next generation.
