Oil and gas sector urged to engage local communities for trust and collaboration

//Kharas councillor Susan Ndjaleka says fostering trust among stakeholders in the oil and gas sectors is crucial.

“There should be community participation, trust, and collaboration among stakeholders,” she says.

Ndjaleka said this at the Namibia University of Science and Technology’s lecture on the emerging oil and gas industries at Lüderitz on Tuesday.

Samuel John, a professor at the Namibia University of Technology (NUST), said: “University curriculums are very dynamic, they don’t stay static, they evolve as the industries evolve.”

Although some of the skills needed for green hydrogen developments are new to Namibia, the fundamental skills are available, he said.

Associate dean Veikko Shalimba emphasised the connection between the university’s history and future shaped by cooperation and collaboration among various stakeholders.

“This lecture series connects Nust’s vibrant history with the present and the exciting future we build together,” he says.

The public lecture was held under the theme ‘Community Participation, Engagement and Consultation in Oil and Gas’ and gathered stakeholders, experts, and community members, reinforcing the critical role local voices play in shaping the future of oil and gas initiatives.