Providing logistics, project support, local supply chain and QHSSE services, Africa Provider Offshore Services (APOS) is ensuring that Namibian companies adhere to international standards. Energy Capital & Power spoke with CEO Veronique Herman about the company’s large-scale investment in Namibia’s first training center dedicated to the offshore industry and its role in fulfilling broader local content objectives.
How did Africa Provider Offshore Services (APOS) begin its activities in Namibia?
Founded in 2015, we diligently cultivated local knowledge and assembled a formidable team. In early-2020, the company embarked on a groundbreaking endeavor, participating in the first major onshore drilling project in the Kavango Basin in decades. This project marked a significant milestone for Namibia’s oil and gas industry and for our team. Selected as the primary Namibian contractor by a Canadian company, we assumed responsibility for subcontracting all the local service providers and suppliers, as well as recruiting and managing the dedicated Namibian team involved in the project. This endeavor unfolded in one of the most remote and challenging locations imaginable, exacerbated by the onset of the global pandemic. In the face of odds and challenges, the APOS team has gained recognition from all, underscoring the fact that local companies can surpass expectations. In late-2021, we smoothly transitioned all the Kavango operations to the Canadian operator, allowing us to refocus on our core business, which is support to offshore operation. Today, our head office is located in Windhoek, where we are expanding our operations and services. APOS is also actively involved in shaping Namibia’s future through the establishment of the first and state of the art training center dedicated to the offshore – Namibian Offshore Training Center (NOTC) – for which we are receiving overwhelming support from all stakeholders.
As a local company, how has APOS been able to compete with international service providers?
Meeting the high standards and expectations of the oil and gas industry can be a complex undertaking for companies entering this novel endeavor, particularly as ultra-deep offshore is a new frontier for Namibia. As a Namibian service company dedicated to the oil and gas sector, APOS has met this challenge with its leading team that boasts extensive experience, along with an excellent reputation among major oil and gas operators and EPC companies.
APOS is renowned for its unwavering commitment to compliance, its expertise and its energetic team. Since its establishment eight years ago, the company has nurtured the hope of witnessing the development of the oil and gas sector in Namibia, and that hope has finally materialized. Nonetheless, this journey is only at its beginning.
To what extent is APOS contributing to local content objectives within Namibia’s oil and gas industry?
When it comes to local content development, APOS goes above and beyond. Being a local company ourselves is the most effective way to achieve this objective – our entire team is proudly Namibian. We embrace a multicultural and diverse workforce, infused with youthful energy. In fact, our youngest employee joined us at the age of 20 and we foresee a bright future for him as he gains invaluable experience. We firmly believe in the power of teamwork, harnessing the wisdom of experienced professionals as well as the enthusiasm of our young talent. Moreover, 75% of our team comprises women, which is a testament to our commitment to gender diversity and inclusivity.
On all of the projects conducted by the APOS team, we make it a priority to procure all necessary services and goods locally, thereby empowering small businesses. This strategic choice showcases APOS’s unwavering commitment to fostering local economic growth and bolstering the emerging oil and gas sector. By investing in the talents and capabilities of the Namibian workforce and embracing local suppliers, APOS has demonstrated an unmatched dedication to sustainable development and community empowerment.
Energy Capital & Power is a strategic partner of the Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) – taking place in Windhoek on April 23-25, 2024. The 6th annual conference unites industry leaders, business executives and policymakers to engage in dialogue, exchange ideas, create new partnerships and identify strategies to foster a prosperous energy industry in Namibia and beyond. For more information, please visit https://www.nieconference.com/
