Namibian youth will soon benefit from academic and industrial training initiatives targeting the imminent development of a local upstream oil and gas sector. This is after Namibia’s Petroleum Training and Education Fund (PetroFund) jointly announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with McDermott International to invest in the next generation of Namibian youth. 

“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.

“Capacity-building collaborations with international service companies promote the exchange of global best practices and technical expertise with local talent, thereby positioning Namibia’s workforce and service providers to play active roles across the full value chain of the upstream industry, while driving and sustaining economic growth in the country,” said Nillian Mulemi, PetroFund chief executive officer.

This training initiative, which was signed last week, supports both the growth of Namibia’s oil and gas industry and its broader economic development goals. The agreement aims to ensure Namibians are well-positioned to participate in and benefit from progress across the energy value chain.

The collaboration aligns with international standards to provide Namibian students, job seekers and service providers access to training, mentorship and employment opportunities. The upskilling and knowledge transfer aspect of the agreement is designed to equip the local workforce with the skills needed for technical roles such as engineering, fabrication, operations and project management to unlock the country’s offshore energy potential.

“This MoU furthers our commitment to developing local content and building a sustainable oil and gas workforce in Namibia. By investing in the next generation of Namibian talent, we help prepare them to lead future projects as Namibia emerges as a key player in Africa’s energy landscape,” said Mahesh Swaminathan, McDermott’s Senior Vice President, Subsea and Floating Facilities.

McDermott is a fully integrated provider of engineering and construction solutions to the energy industry. Operating in over 54 countries, McDermott’s locally focused and globally integrated resources include more than 30 000 employees, a diversified fleet of speciality marine construction vessels and fabrication facilities around the world.