Namibia is making great strides towards developing its Namibian content framework with the draft policy already tabled. Speaking during the Namibian International Energy Conference (NIEC) – taking place in Windhoek – Maggy Shino, Petroleum Commissioner at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, stated that the ministry has received wide input from stakeholders and is preparing the next draft.
“For something as important as this which grows the economy, it needs a lot of input and consideration. We are fostering relations and ensuring there is a collaborative approach in everything that we do. Currently, within the petroleum exploration and production act, there are already provisions that speak to local content in Namibia,” Shino said.
Organizations such as the Petroleum Training and Education Fund (Petrofund) are already spearheading Namibian content development in the country, aiming to strengthen the capacity of the domestic market before oil and gas projects come online in 2030.
According to Nillian Mulemi, CEO of Petrofund, “We have ramped up the training of Namibians; we have expanded the scope of skills for training; we are collaborating with not only operators but service companies to prepare for the emerging oil and gas industry. We have signed MoU’s – particularly with service companies – and are collaborating with companies including SubSea7, Halliburton and TechnipFMC.”
Representing a catalyst for economic growth, Namibian content stands to unlock a strong suite of economic opportunities for Namibia, including job creation, industrialization, SME participation and the development of local markets.
An important driver of Namibian content, according to Illeana Ferber, CEO and Founder, Colibri Business Development, is “alignment, communication and accountability. Local content is not just the responsibility of the government but of every stakeholder. Another element is a fit-for-purpose policy. There have to be policies with linkages to every sector of the economy. Policies also need to be inclusive and diverse.”
In the development of its Namibian content policy, the country stands to gain insight from its regional neighbors. Anabela Marcos, Managing Director of SONILS, stated that, “We have the opportunity to exchange experiences and elevate standards in a way that industry demands. Namibia can learn from Angola. It is a way to collaborate. It is all about getting together and giving [people] opportunities to grow – this will grow the economy.”
Angola is one of Africa’s largest oil producers alongside Nigeria, and as such, both offer strategic lessons for Namibia within the field of Namibian content. Simbi Wabote, Former Head of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, stated that, “Namibia is very lucky as a country and I wish Nigerians started the conversation when oil and gas started 50 years ago – we would be in a different space. You must learn from the mistakes of Nigeria and also learn from the aspects that Nigeria has done right.”
In addition to Namibian content, creating in-country value is considered a strategic way to develop Namibia’s economy while maximizing the benefits of the oil and gas industry. Antoine Berel, Vice President: Sub-Saharan Africa at Halliburton, says that “you can create local content without having value. For Namibia to stay competitive, it is important to have value creation and addition.”
Energy Capital & Power is a media partner of 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/.
