Offshore potential can fuel drive to nationwide prosperity

The discovery of hydrocarbons, oil and gas carries the potential to rewrite the economic destiny of Namibia.


“Stakeholders in Namibia's emerging oil and gas sector should therefore not work in silos but in symphony and ensure that the tide of opportunity rising from the Orange Basin firstly uplifts the communities that have hosted this potential from the beginning,” said the Governor of the ||Kharas Region, Gaob Dawid Casius Gertze, in his opening speech at the Governor's Symposium 2025, themed "From offshore potential to national prosperity", in Lüderitz on Tuesday.


“Let us move, together, from offshore potential to shared, inclusive, and enduring national prosperity. The time for engagement is now, the opportunity is here. Let us seize it," Gertze urged. “This vast resource endowment is a national trust. It does not belong to a foreign company or a single government ministry, it belongs to the people of Namibia. The primary purpose of these discoveries should serve our nation to crush poverty, to create wealth, and to build a resilient, empowered nation. The revenue from these resources must fuel quality education, healthcare, and infrastructure for all,” the governor emphasised.


Gertze added that the emerging industry has the potential to end the scourge of youth unemployment. “This can be done not through fleeting jobs, but through lifelong, meaningful careers. We must, however, produce graduates who are not just job-seekers but job-creators and solution-providers. Our children must be the best-prepared generation to steer this ship towards a prosperous future,” he said.


The governor emphasised, “To make this a reality, our academic institutions must be engines of readiness. Universities and vocational training centres must urgently align their curricula with this new reality because we need degrees and diplomas that speak the language of energy, that understand the technology of deep-water exploration and the economics of a just energy transition.”


Gertze also reminded players in the emerging Namibian oil and gas industry that their social licence to operate is irrevocably tied to their commitment to empower Namibians. “The challenge, though, is that the sincerity of our partnership shall be measured not just in barrels extracted or revenue that will be shared, but in the enhancement of the lives of the Namibian nation. This means more than corporate social responsibility. It means active local participation,” he said.


Gertze further called on industry stakeholders to avail opportunities, to make their supply chains Namibian and in doing so help build not just a workforce, but a thriving local economy that will outlast any single project. “You need to prioritise Namibian goods and services and to invest in Namibian talent. Let //Kharas be not just the point of extraction but the epicentre of expertise. Let us also move beyond charity by investing in project support that builds lasting infrastructure and by championing skills development programmes that are tailored to your actual operational needs, mentor SMEs and foster entrepreneurship,” he said.


The governor also urged the youth to take a firm grip of every available opportunity. “The emerging oil and gas industry, alongside the pioneering green hydrogen sector, represents the most significant economic frontier of your lifetime. This is not a spectator sport. We cannot afford for this industry to simply happen to us. You must ensure it happens for us and by us. Be attentive, be prepared, and participate aggressively,” Gertze said.