Saipem and the Petroleum Training and Education Fund (Petrofund) have signed an agreement to develop technical skills and industry experience for Namibians as the country builds capacity to support its emerging upstream oil and gas sector.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on 22 September 2026, will see the global engineering and construction company work with Petrofund on workforce development, knowledge transfer and professional training for the petroleum industry.
Under the agreement, the two organisations will collaborate on on-the-job training, internships, scholarships and technical training programmes, with a particular focus on young professionals, university graduates and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates.
“A central element of the collaboration is the creation of opportunities for young Namibian professionals, university graduates and TVET graduates to gain practical industry experience,” the parties said in a joint statement.
The programmes are expected to expose participants to technologies, processes and equipment used in the international oil and gas industry, as well as industry safety standards and professional competencies.
The partnership will also extend to mentoring and coaching, technical knowledge sharing, curriculum development, research and innovation, career fairs and support for education and training institutions.
Supplier development initiatives are also included in the MoU, extending the partnership beyond individual skills development to efforts aimed at strengthening local participation in the petroleum industry.
“By combining Petrofund’s mandate for skills development with Saipem’s international expertise, the parties aim to contribute to building a sustainable pipeline of talent capable of supporting Namibia’s rapidly expanding upstream oil and gas industry,” the statement said.
Saipem said Namibia’s developing energy sector provides an opportunity to invest in local workforce capacity as the country prepares for increased upstream activity.
“For Saipem, the growth of Namibia’s energy sector represents a significant opportunity to invest in local talent and skills development. Through the collaboration with Petrofund, the company intends to support workforce development, knowledge transfer and professional training initiatives,” the statement said.
The agreement comes amid efforts to build the technical and professional capabilities required to increase Namibian participation in the upstream petroleum sector following offshore oil discoveries.
The parties said the MoU builds on existing collaboration between Saipem and Namibian stakeholders and is intended to strengthen local capabilities needed to support the long-term development of the country’s oil and gas industry.
