Allexer Namundjembo
A new Industrial Baseline Survey (IBS) says Namibia is not yet ready for large-scale oil and gas production because it lacks key technical certifications, strong health-and-safety systems and reliable compliance checks.
The findings were shared in virtual session hosted by the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI).
The meeting, open to both NCCI members and non-members, centred on the nation’s readiness for the upstream oil and gas sector.
The IBS was launched in December 2024 and officially endorsed by the government. It was commissioned by NCCI and conducted by Deloitte Namibia, with contributions from the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) and the Petroleum Training and Education Fund (PetroFund). The study assessed Namibia’s industrial and workforce capacity in anticipation of oil production.
“This study arrives at a critical point in our national economic trajectory as the country aspires to develop new economic levers,” said NCCI CEO Titus Nampala.
He noted that the country has already demonstrated potential in sectors such as general waste management, ICT services, and road construction.
He added that other areas, including civil works and warehousing, could be scaled up with modest investments.
However, to ensure local participation in the sector, the study highlighted key challenges that require attention.
“To take full advantage of this discovery, we must enhance our capacity across the entire supply and value chain so that more of the dollar is retained domestically,” said Nampala.
“Unlike the exploration phase, the production phase must bring real economic benefits home.”
The IBS feedback session followed the UNCTAD–NCCI Industry and Policy engagement workshop held in Windhoek earlier this month.
At the workshop, stakeholders examined Namibia’s local production capacity and coordination challenges.
The IBS results echoed the workshop’s conclusion that fragmented policies and weak training systems are major barriers.
“The UNCTAD workshops underscored what the data now confirms. We are not starting from zero, but we must address fragmentation across policy, training, and investment ecosystems. The time to coordinate is now,” Nampala said.
Namibia has faced similar challenges before. Concerns about Namibia’s ability to benefit from extractive industries emerged after the first oil discoveries in 2022.
A 2023 report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) warned that without strong local content policies and skills development, Namibia risked missing out on long-term economic benefits.
“Local content is not automatic. It must be designed, prepared for, and delivered through clear, sustained action,” Nampala added.
NCCI reaffirmed its role as a private sector convener and pledged to support national efforts to strengthen industrial competitiveness and broaden economic inclusion as the country prepares for potential oil production.
