Namibia has taken a new step in developing its emerging oil industry by signing a memorandum of understanding with engineering firm McDermott International. The initiative, led by the Petroleum Training and Education Fund (PETROFUND), aims to train local technicians, engineers, and managers to support the country’s offshore projects.
Responding to recent offshore discoveries
The partnership follows major deepwater discoveries off the Namibian coast by Shell and TotalEnergies. The agreement includes the development of training programmes aligned with international industry standards, covering offshore engineering, construction, and operations.
McDermott will contribute technical expertise, while PETROFUND will oversee local implementation, including candidate selection, training funding, and professional placement. The stated objective is to build a qualified national workforce capable of designing, operating, and maintaining petroleum infrastructure.
Goal: increase local participation in the sector
The memorandum is part of the National Development Plan (NDP6 2025–2030), which targets 15% local content in the oil industry within five years, up from the current 10%. This strategic framework reflects the government’s intent to capture a greater share of the value created by hydrocarbon exploitation.
Since 2023, Namibia has entered into cooperation agreements with African oil-producing countries including Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, drawing on their experience in strengthening national capacity. These partnerships are intended to reduce dependence on foreign labour and boost domestic employment.
A mandate backed by petroleum legislation
Local content development is anchored in the country’s petroleum law enacted in 1991. Within this framework, PETROFUND serves as the main implementing agency for training and employment policies in the upstream sector.
“Our partnership with McDermott supports PETROFUND’s mandate to build the capacity of Namibia’s workforce and service providers to participate in the emerging opportunities within the country’s upstream oil and gas industry,” said Nillian Mulemi, Chief Executive Officer of PETROFUND.
