Allexer Namundjembo
The president of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN), Shakwa Nyambe, has urged Namibians and other African energy professionals to enrol in the upcoming AIEN international oil and gas contracts and negotiations course.
The course will take place from 9 to 13 February 2026 in Cairo, Egypt.
Nyambe said the training comes at a critical time as Namibia and other African countries position themselves as emerging oil and gas producers.
He said this shift requires strong local capacity to manage complex contracts, commercial terms and regulatory frameworks.
“As Namibia moves from discovery to execution, professionals involved in the sector must be equipped to engage meaningfully with international oil and gas agreements that support and encourage project viability,” Nyambe on Wednesday.
The five-day course targets both new entrants and experienced practitioners in the energy sector.
It focuses on practical learning and is delivered by industry experts, including Harry Sullivan, Jennifer Josefson, Andrew Derman, and Kimberly Reeder.
Participants will receive training on a wide range of topics. These include the global energy industry landscape, confidentiality and bidding agreements, anti-bribery and corruption frameworks, sanctions regimes, and international dispute resolution.
The programme also covers service and granting instruments, joint operating agreements, farm-in and farm-out arrangements, unitisation, decommissioning, crude oil and gas sales agreements, transportation, LNG fundamentals, stabilisation, sovereign immunity and emerging energy solutions.
Nyambe encouraged Namibians and Africans working in legal, commercial, regulatory, policy and technical roles to attend.
He also called on professionals from national oil companies, including the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), to take advantage of the opportunity.
“Developing local expertise is essential to ensuring that African countries are well positioned to negotiate balanced, sustainable and commercially sound agreements as major projects in the Orange Basin move closer to execution,” he said.
Namibia has drawn strong international interest following offshore oil and gas discoveries in the Orange Basin in recent years.
The government and industry leaders have stressed that success will depend not only on the size of the discoveries but also on the country’s ability to negotiate fair contracts, manage regulation and grow local value.
