WALVIS BAY – Namibian youth should not be spectators, but must take the lead as the country enters a new chapter in its oil and gas development.
This is according to the special advisor and head of the upstream petroleum unit in the office of the presidency, Kornelia Shilunga.
She was speaking at the second edition of the Youth in Oil and Gas Summit over the weekend in Walvis Bay.
The summit, held under the theme ‘Drilling into the Future: Empowering Youth in Namibia’s Oil and Gas Revolution’, brought together policymakers, industry players, academics and young professionals to consult and deliberate on the possibilities offered by the oil and gas sector.
Shilunga said the summit is a strategic platform that recognises youth as a critical resource in the country’s petroleum future.
“Our strategy is not only focused on resource extraction but also on skills extraction. We are here to ensure that your talents, ambitions and voices are fully integrated into this transformative sector,” she said.
She stated that Namibia’s oil and gas sector has reached several significant milestones, with 28 offshore and 10 onshore exploration wells, along with 15 appraisal wells, to be drilled by 2024. She added that Namibia’s estimated 11 billion barrels of oil and 2.2 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves place it among the most promising emerging energy producers in the region.
Shilunga further noted that government, through the Office of the President, has established an Upstream Petroleum Unit tasked to review regulatory frameworks and guide development in the sector.
She said it is important that young Namibians participate in policy development and take advantage of opportunities across the entire value chain – from exploration and production to refining and distribution.
“This revolution must be powered by integrity, led with courage and anchored in inclusion. Youth empowerment is a national imperative,” she said. The summit founder, Justina Erastus, said the summit has evolved from a conversation into a national movement to place young people at the centre of Namibia’s energy transformation.
“Youth in Oil and Gas is not just a summit. It is a national project designed to empower every young Namibian, from Keetmanshoop to Oshakati, to see themselves as innovators and decision-makers,” she said.
She pointed out the need to support graduates and youth-owned businesses by giving them practical experience.
Erastus confirmed that all service providers for the event were young Namibians.
“We had to remind ourselves not to just talk the talk, but walk it,” she said.
Erongo governor Natalia / Goagoses, said the summit reflects the country’s intention to include youth in national development.
She highlighted the importance of local content regulations that prioritise youth training, employment and enterprise development.
“We must ensure that our laws and policies include youth as a priority. Local content must include youth content,” she stated.
She noted that Erongo remains a strategic region for the development of the oil and gas sector due to its infrastructure and skilled workforce.
The Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) stipulates that Namibia aims to produce 150 million barrels of oil, increase gas production to 130 million standard cubic feet per day and create 22 800 jobs by 2030.
Government al so aims to increase youth and local participation in the industry from 10% to 15%.
The two – day summit was supported by several stakeholders, including the African Energy & Economic Youth Council, Namcor, the Af rican Energy Chamber, Petrofund and various corporate sponsors.
– edeklerk@nepc.com.na