Windhoek: Oil and gas companies operating in Namibia have spent billions of Namibia dollars into local businesses, as procurement and employment opportunities expand in the sector. Speaking at the Upstream Oil and Gas Local Suppliers Workshop on Tuesday, Deputy Country Manager at Rhino Resources, Ndakolo Haiduwa, revealed that the company spent about N.dollars 3.3 billion on local suppliers during its initial drilling campaign in the Orange Basin. "In our first campaign, 80 per cent of our local expenditure was spent on local companies," he said.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Haiduwa stated that local participation has increased, with more Namibians being employed and more services sourced locally as operations progress. "We saw the local participation going up to 60 per cent, and we are looking at really increasing those numbers," he said. He noted that services such as logistics, catering, waste management, and transportation are being procured locally, but emphasized the importance of meeting strict safety, environmental, and quality standards.

Assistant Operations Manager at ReconNamibia, Muundu Kasera, also spoke at the workshop, highlighting the company's investment of about N.dollars 2.3 billion into the Namibian economy through procurement and employment. "ReconNamibia has contributed approximately N.dollars 2.3 billion through procurement opportunities, employment creation, and contractor participation," he said. Kasera emphasized local participation, with 95 per cent of the workforce sourced from within the country.

Kasera added that more than 550 local suppliers have been registered, with opportunities available in areas such as civil works, fuel supply, logistics, catering, and security services. However, he warned that suppliers must meet compliance requirements, including proper documentation and ethical business practices. "There is zero tolerance for bribery and unethical conduct," he said.