Namibia invests N$160m to build oil workforce ahead of first production
By Eyo Nsima
Namibia has invested about N$160 million in educating and training more than 500 Namibians as the country moves from oil and gas exploration towards development and production, in a strategy aimed at ensuring that its emerging petroleum industry delivers jobs, skills and business opportunities for citizens.
The investment by the Petroleum Training and Education Fund (PETROFUND) was disclosed at the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference 2026 in Windhoek, where the fund said it was working with international oil companies and service providers to build the technical capacity needed ahead of first oil.
PETROFUND Chief Executive Officer, Nillian Mulemi, said the success of Namibia’s oil and gas industry should ultimately be measured by its impact on citizens rather than simply by production volumes and investment.
“The true measure of the impact of the oil and gas industry on Namibia’s economy will be accounted for through growth in jobs and living standards and the stimulation of local support services,” she said.
Mulemi said PETROFUND had signed more than 10 strategic memoranda of understanding with operators and service companies, creating opportunities for Namibians through internships, on-the-job training, skills development and employment.
According to her, more than 60 Namibians had already secured internships and employment through the partnerships.
Among them are 23 Namibians employed by TechnipFMC Namibia, with training opportunities provided in Ghana, Nigeria and France.
Another 13 Namibians are undertaking the second year of an on-the-job training programme with SBM Offshore in India, after completing their first year of training in Malaysia.
Three Namibians have also been permanently employed by Subsea7 as remotely operated vehicle pilot technicians and deployed internationally, while another three candidates are expected to begin training in September.
Companies including Yinson Production, Halliburton, SLB, Baker Hughes and BW Energy are also providing recruitment and skills-development opportunities.
Mulemi said Namibia needed to expose its citizens to actual offshore operations before large-scale production begins.
“As Namibia advances towards development and production, it is essential that we expose and integrate Namibians into offshore operations, rigs and future FPSO facilities,” she said.
PETROFUND has also trained more than 83 graduates in critical petroleum and energy-related disciplines, with some receiving specialised training in Indonesia, Angola, the United Kingdom, United States, France and Canada.
At the technical and vocational level, Yinson Production has funded 16 Namibians for offshore deck cadet training in South Africa, while Chevron has funded 13 for welding, fitting and turning programmes in Namibia.
PETROFUND said it plans to support more than 100 Namibians through scholarship opportunities in priority fields in 2026, with technical and vocational skills expected to become increasingly important as Namibia approaches production.
The fund is also seeking to ensure that local businesses benefit from the emerging petroleum industry.
With N$1 million in support from FirstRand Group Namibia, PETROFUND organised its first Upstream Oil and Gas Local Suppliers’ Workshop in April to strengthen the technical, operational and compliance capabilities of Namibian micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
A second workshop is planned for the final quarter of the year.
Mulemi said the objective was to position local suppliers to compete effectively as Namibia moves towards final investment decisions and first oil.
Beyond physical training, PETROFUND has established PetroConnect, a digital CV repository and talent-matching platform designed to connect qualified Namibians with employment opportunities in the oil and gas industry.
Mulemi urged operators, service companies and other industry players to make greater use of the platform to identify local talent and address skills gaps.
“We remain committed to investing in what we proudly call ‘barrels of skills and opportunities’ to develop a globally competitive workforce,” she said.
She added that Namibia’s local-content aspirations would depend on sustained cooperation between government, industry, training institutions and local businesses.
“Together, we must ensure that Namibians are equipped with the skills, experience and opportunities needed to participate meaningfully in this emerging sector,” Mulemi said.
The approach comes as Namibia seeks to move from major offshore discoveries to commercial development, with the government increasingly focused on ensuring that petroleum wealth translates into employment, local enterprise development and broader economic benefits.
