The Petroleum Training and Education Fund (PETROFUND), in partnership with oil and gas service company Subsea7, has announced the deployment of three Namibian graduates for specialised training in subsea operations, as part of ongoing efforts to build local capacity in the petroleum sector.
The candidates – Leonard Johannes, Erasmus Shikongo and Rikardo Samuyumbe – are graduates of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) with qualifications in Power and Mechanical Engineering. They have been selected to undergo Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) Pilot Technician training at the Netherlands Maritime University College in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
According to PETROFUND, the training is fully funded by the organisation and valued at over N$870,000. Upon completion of the academic programme, the trainees will receive on-the-job training (OJT) from Subsea7, after which they will be employed as part of the company’s global offshore ROV workforce.
Subsea7 has also committed to enrolling the candidates in its Competence and Assurance Programme, which supports professional development in the subsea field.
In addition, the company will fund the internationally recognised OPITO-certified Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET), along with medical fitness assessments required for offshore work.
ROV pilot technicians are vital to offshore oil and gas operations, tasked with operating and maintaining remotely controlled underwater vehicles in environments considered too deep or hazardous for human divers.
This is of particular importance in Namibia, where offshore waters are classified as ultra-deep.
“This initiative reflects the shared commitment of the Government of the Republic of Namibia through PETROFUND, academia through NUST, and the industry through Subsea7 to equip Namibian youth with high-demand, specialised technical skills essential for the upstream petroleum sector,” PETROFUND said.
The training comes at a crucial time for Namibia’s oil and gas industry, with several operators edging closer to making their first Final Investment Decisions (FID).
PETROFUND said the move demonstrates Namibia’s readiness to meaningfully participate in future oil production activities by investing in local expertise.
