Namibia is making significant progress in shaping its Namibian content framework, with the draft policy already under discussion.
Speaking at the Namibian International Energy Conference (NIEC) in Windhoek, Maggy Shino, Petroleum Commissioner at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, emphasized the collaborative effort underway to refine the policy.
Shino highlighted the importance of broad stakeholder input, emphasizing that the framework aims to stimulate economic growth and requires careful consideration.
Notably, existing provisions within the petroleum exploration and production act address local content in Namibia.
Initiatives like the Petroleum Training and Education Fund (Petrofund) are actively driving Namibian content development, focusing on enhancing domestic capacity ahead of the anticipated oil and gas projects by 2030.
Nillian Mulemi, CEO of Petrofund, emphasized their efforts in skill development, forging partnerships with key industry players like SubSea7, Halliburton, and TechnipFMC.
Namibian content represents a pivotal driver for economic advancement, offering avenues for job creation, industrialization, SME involvement, and local market development.
Illeana Ferber, CEO of Colibri Business Development, stressed the need for alignment, communication, and accountability among stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of local content policies.
Drawing insights from regional counterparts like Angola, Namibia seeks to leverage shared experiences to enhance its content policies.
Anabela Marcos, Managing Director of SONILS, emphasized the importance of collaboration and knowledge exchange to elevate industry standards and foster economic growth.
Learning from the successes and challenges of countries like Nigeria, Namibia aims to chart a strategic path for local content development while maximizing the broader benefits of the oil and gas sector.
Antoine Berel, Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa at Halliburton, emphasized the significance of creating in-country value to enhance Namibia’s competitiveness and economic resilience.
