THE 2023 Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) on Tuesday hosted a strategic industry intelligence session with the African Energy Chamber (AEC) to discuss local business development and skill-building opportunities within the industry. The workshop was led by AEC Executive Chairman, NJ Ayuk, who emphasised the need to create jobs across the energy value chain and implement effective local content policy.
Ayuk expressed his concern about young people and businesses not being involved beyond logistics, stating, ‘I want jobs. We still have a country where a lot of young people don’t necessarily have experience in enterprise development or building joint ventures. How can we get young people and businesses involved?’
Grace Orife, CEO of Adelaar Energy Limited, highlighted the importance of gender diversity and inclusion in the oil and gas industry. She mentioned the African Women Business Energy Network initiative by the AEC, which aims to connect young girls with women who have accomplished a lot in oil and gas, and encouraged more women to enter STEM.
Anthony Paul, Principal Consultant at the Association of Caribbean Energy Specialists, emphasised the significance of local sub-contracting in building a sustainable and inclusive extractive industry. Meanwhile, Dr. Riverson Oppong, Commercial Operations Manager at Ghana National Gas Company, stressed the value of establishing a local supply chain for emerging producers like Namibia.
Seyi Afolabi, CEO of Reservoir & Facilities Solutions Nigeria Limited, urged international companies to train local people to manage assets in the long term. He stated, ‘In the oil and gas industry, you’re building facilities to last for 20-40 years. You want to be able to ensure that the locals in that country are able to manage those assets, as in the long term, it becomes increasingly difficult to hire the necessary expats.’
The experts shared their expertise on the pressing issues facing the Namibian and African oil and gas sector, focusing on creating opportunities for local businesses, gender diversity and inclusion, and sustainable and inclusive extractive industry.