Niël Terblanché
Young Namibians are set to benefit from a new offshore oil and gas training initiative through a partnership between the Namibia Youth Energy Forum (NYEF) and global recruitment firm Atlas Professionals.
The Greenhand Program will offer free training to prepare young people for jobs in the oil and gas sector.
It will be rolled out in Windhoek, Walvis Bay, and Lüderitz. This is the first time offshore oil and gas training of this kind has been offered in the country.
The programme has already been implemented in countries such as the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Suriname.
It is supported by international oil and gas drilling firms and multinational oil companies.
Dorriane Zammit, international business development manager at Atlas Professionals, said she is excited for the launch in Namibia.
“I am super excited to be working with the Namibia Youth Energy Forum and other stakeholders in the country to provide this training opportunity. This programme has seen great success in the UK, Brazil, and Suriname, and I am thrilled to bring it to Namibia to upskill the youth and maximise local content,” she said.
Fanuel Shinedima, chairperson of the Namibia Youth Energy Forum, welcomed the partnership.
“We are very excited and grateful to Atlas Professionals and all the stakeholders for making such an opportunity available for Namibian youth. This programme will upskill our youth and provide them with meaningful participation in Namibia’s oil and gas sector. We call on all stakeholders to support our various programmes to empower youth across the country,” he said.
The NYEF was created by Namibian youth to promote participation in the country’s energy sector.
It works across the oil and gas, hydrogen, and renewable energy industries and aims to ensure young Namibians are included in the country’s energy developments.
Atlas Professionals is a global company in the energy, marine, and renewables sectors.
It provides workforce solutions and staffing services, with a focus on safety, competence, and long-term development.
The Greenhand Program comes at a time when Namibia is positioning itself as a future offshore energy producer.
