SMEs get a foothold in Namibia's oil and gas
FNB Namibia, RMB Namibia, the Petroleum Training and Education Fund (Petrofund) and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) hosted the Upstream Oil and Gas Suppliers' Workshop in Windhoek last week, bringing together more than 200 delegates from the financial sector, public institutions, local enterprises, and leading operators and service providers in the oil and gas industry.
The two-day event, offered free of charge to local businesses and streamed across local platforms for broader access, gave small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a platform to deepen their understanding of Namibia's evolving upstream oil and gas landscape, strengthen networks, and explore participation opportunities across the value chain.
The workshop builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in 2025 between Petrofund and FirstRand Namibia, which comprises FNB Namibia, RMB Namibia, FNB Commercial and FNB Retail, formalising a shared commitment to skills development, capacity building and local supplier empowerment. The partnership aims to equip Namibians with the training, resources and opportunities needed to participate meaningfully in the sector, while strengthening in-country value retention.
Conrad Dempsey, chief executive officer of FirstRand Namibia, delivered the opening remarks, emphasising the importance of collaboration in building a sustainable and inclusive energy ecosystem.
"Namibia's oil and gas opportunity is significant, but its true value will only be realised if we build it together," said Dempsey.
"This requires deliberate collaboration between industry, government, and financial partners to ensure that local businesses are not only included but are equipped to compete and thrive across the value chain. At FirstRand Namibia, we remain committed to enabling that ecosystem through access, skills development, and meaningful partnerships that drive sustainable economic participation."
Otiniel Ndivayele, FNB Namibia's small and medium enterprise (SMEs) business development manager, presented at the event and took part in a panel discussion examining financing opportunities for SMEs entering the oil and gas value chain. The session covered funding considerations, partnership models and business readiness for local enterprises seeking to scale into the sector.
A separate panel, moderated by Olavi Hangula, RMB Namibia's oil, gas and energy sector coverage manager, brought together operators including TotalEnergies, Shell, Rhino Resources and Reconnaissance Energy Africa. The discussion examined emerging opportunities in the upstream sector and practical considerations for SMEs engaging with operators and service providers.
On the final day, Naftal Akweenda, FNB Namibia's Oil, Gas and Energy Sector Manager, moderated a question-and-answer session with Tier 1 upstream service companies. The discussion focused on how local companies can participate meaningfully in the value chain, covering invoicing requirements and the steps SMEs need to take to onboard and transact with operators and service providers.
A guideline booklet capturing key insights and practical guidance from the workshop is due for release soon. Businesses are encouraged to look out for the resource as they explore opportunities in Namibia's oil and gas sector.
