The Petroleum Training and Education Fund (PETROFUND) has awarded Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) scholarships to 13 students at the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT), with the initiative valued at N$1 million over the next three years.
The scholarships will support training in critical trades such as boilermaking, electrical work, and fitting and turning — all essential skills for the development of Namibia’s emerging petroleum infrastructure.
Under the arrangement, the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) will cover the students’ tuition fees, while PETROFUND will provide funding for accommodation, transport, trade test fees, meal allowances, and pocket money.
PETROFUND Chief Executive Officer, Nillian Mulemi, underscored the significance of the support during the handover ceremony.
“We are proud to commit to covering their accommodation, transport, trade test fees, meal allowances and pocket money, with the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund supporting their tuition fees,” Mulemi said.
“This year alone, PETROFUND is funding 77 students both locally and internationally across secondary school, undergraduate, and master’s levels. Today, with the addition of these 13 TVET trainees, we bring the total number of beneficiaries to 90 students for the 2025 academic year.”
Mulemi also emphasised the importance of developing local capacity as the country nears a Final Investment Decision (FID) from key oil and gas operators.
“The oil and gas industry is growing at an unprecedented pace. It is imperative that we accelerate our efforts to build the technical capacity of as many Namibians as possible,” she noted. “Once the FID is announced, Namibia’s economic landscape will change dramatically, offering wide-ranging benefits both directly and indirectly to our people.”
The TVET scholarship programme was launched in partnership with the !NamiǂNûs Constituency and Chevron, with a particular focus on empowering youth from the southern regions near the Orange Basin, an area of heightened petroleum exploration activity.
Mulemi added that the impact of the oil and gas industry would extend well beyond exploration and production, driving growth across multiple sectors.
“In this growing petroleum industry, skills in electrical work, boilermaking, fitting and turning are crucial. These fields equip trainees with practical knowledge for the safe and efficient operation, maintenance, and construction of vital infrastructure like pipelines, pressure vessels, and electrical systems,” she said.
