Halliburton says its local supplier development initiative in Namibia has attracted significant interest, with more than 750 local vendors expressing their readiness to collaborate.
The company’s expression of interest (EOI) campaign, which ran from May to July 2024, was launched to identify and onboard vendors to support Halliburton’s operations.
The initiative aligns with the nearing completion of a major project, the liquid mud treatment and completion fluid plant (LMTP) at Berth 8 in Walvis Bay, expected to be finalised by September 2024.
Halliburton’s Business Development Lead for Namibia, Uzodinma Nwankwo, highlighted the importance of a strong vendor response.
“The overwhelming interest from local vendors clearly shows that Namibians are eager to be part of Halliburton’s operations. This initiative is critical in ensuring we develop a broad local supplier base capable of supporting our long-term activities in the country,” Nwankwo said.
The EOI, which aimed to onboard vendors who meet Halliburton’s standards, received substantial attention.
However, Nwankwo clarified that the initiative was not bound by a specific target number.
“While we didn’t set a precise number of vendors to onboard, the goal was to attract as many capable suppliers as possible. The response of over 750 vendors showcases the willingness of local businesses to step up and meet our operational needs,” Nwankwo said.
He noted that Halliburton has already made strides in local sourcing, as in collaboration with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), the company has successfully added over 60 local suppliers to its database this year, marking a 100% growth compared to the previous year.
“Our collaboration with the NIPDB has been instrumental in expanding our supplier base. The fact that we’ve doubled the number of local suppliers year on year reflects both the demand and the capacity of Namibian businesses to meet international standards,” Nwankwo explained.
Nwankwo noted that the project, which includes key components such as tanks and silos, is set for completion in September 2024.
“The substructure of the LMTP is complete, and all the necessary components are already in-country. We’re now focused on finalising the construction by next month, which is an important milestone for us in terms of local capacity building and operational readiness,” Nwankwo said.
While the EOI closed at the end of July 2024, Nwankwo assured that future opportunities for local suppliers remain possible.
“For now, the EOI process is the only way for suppliers to join our database. However, if we find any gaps in the current selection, we will announce another round for vendors to apply. This approach ensures that we continually onboard suppliers as our operations expand,” Nwankwo remarked.
Halliburton’s vendor initiative aligns with Namibia’s local content policies, focusing on job creation and compliance with sourcing guidelines.
“We’re committed to creating jobs and adhering to local content requirements. This means that, wherever possible, we source materials and services locally, provided they meet our quality standards. The EOI process plays a key role in ensuring that we meet both operational needs and local content regulations,” Nwankwo said.
The plant is set to create 22 jobs during peak operations and will support offshore drilling activities, with its strategic location at Berth 8, Port of Walvis Bay, providing easy access to regional oil and gas fields.
Documents reveal the plant will include storage and processing warehouses, liquid and dry bulk areas for drilling fluids, and a lab for quality control.
The project will be implemented in three phases: pre-construction (site selection and permits), construction (six months), and a five-year operational phase.
Rhino Resources Ltd awarded Halliburton a multi-well construction contract, which includes drilling and testing services as well as extending facilities in Namibia to maximise value.
