PETROFUND Chief Executive Officer, Nillian Mulemi and Saipem Country Manager for Namibia, Gianluigi Della Rosa.
International energy and infrastructure company Saipem and the Petroleum Training and Education Fund (Petrofund) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening skills development and local participation in Namibia’s growing upstream oil and gas industry.
The agreement, signed on 22 September, provides a framework for cooperation between the two organisations, with a focus on developing local skills, transferring technical knowledge and creating opportunities for Namibians to participate in the country’s emerging oil and gas sector.
The collaboration will include initiatives such as on-the-job training, internships, scholarships, technical training programmes, career fairs and support for educational institutions. Supplier development activities will also form part of the cooperation. A key focus of the agreement is creating opportunities for young Namibian professionals, university graduates and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates to gain practical experience in the industry.
According to the organisations, participants will be exposed to technologies, processes, equipment, safety standards and professional practices used in the international oil and gas sector. The aim is to help prepare young Namibians for future employment opportunities as the country’s upstream petroleum industry develops. The MoU also provides for cooperation in mentoring and coaching, technical knowledge sharing, curriculum development, research and innovation, as well as engagement with educational and training institutions. Petrofund’s role in developing skills for Namibia’s upstream petroleum sector will be combined with Saipem’s international industry experience under the agreement.
The organisations said this is intended to contribute to building a skilled local workforce capable of supporting the long-term development of Namibia’s oil and gas industry. For Saipem, the development of Namibia’s energy sector presents an opportunity to invest in local talent and support workforce development. The company said the collaboration is also in line with its commitment to local content and to supporting the communities in which it operates.
By Eileen van der Schyff
