Namibia is targetting first oil production from the Shell-operated Graff-1X find and the TotalEnergies-operated Venus-1X find by 2029, but the development of other offshore discoveries such as Mopane could bring the timeline to first oil much closer. To support offshore oil operations, international oilfield service provider Halliburton has officially opened a series of operational bases across Namibia. With a combined footprint of more than 22,000 m² across four main hubs, the bases will deliver advanced technology and services that maximize Namibia’s offshore resources.
Situated in Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Lüderitz, the bases feature a range of services and infrastructure to support current and upcoming oil and gas projects. The Windhoek base will offer consulting and support services to enhance stakeholder engagement while the Walvis Bay operational facilities will host a mud laboratory, equipment staging area and focus on drilling fluids and cementing services, perforating services and warehousing. The Swakopmund base will focus on testing and subsea services, well completions, wireline and logging, sperry drilling, coring and drill bits, while the Lüderitz base will support cementing services and wireline and logging services with its cementing laboratory.
Speaking at the opening ceremony in Windhoek on Tuesday, Namibia’s Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo said that “This moment is not just a reflection of our commitment to drive Namibian operational excellence and efficiency, but also a testament of our shared vision of fostering in-country value creation and sustainable growth. Our initiatives not only focus on local footprint, but as well on job creation, capacity building, compliance with local sourcing guidelines, helping local entrepreneurs to grow, while focusing on diversity and inclusion.”
While the country eagerly awaits FID to be made on the Venus and Graff finds – both of which are anticipated next year – the government has been working closely with international firms to establish a strong logistics and operational base in-land. Halliburton’s bases reflect this commitment and will not only serve to drive oilfield support and excellence but lay the foundation for a new era of capacity building and skills development.
Halliburton’s Area Vice President Antoine Berel stated that “these facilities represent our commitment to innovation, operational excellence and sustainable practices. They are designed to enhance our capabilities, improve efficiencies, drive in-country value creation and ultimately deliver greater value to our clients and partners.”
Beyond oilfield services, Halliburton has placed local content at the heart of its operational bases. In terms of job creation, the facilities have employed 41 permanent employees, with 200 additional jobs set to be created following the confirmation of new contracts. Up to 50% of permanent employees are women. In terms of capacity building, the Ministry of Mines and Energy has collaborated with the Petroleum Training and Education Fund to “outline skillset requirements, to take advantage of their young talent base for our hiring needs and to connect with universities,” the Minister said.
To further support skills development, the ministry has partnered with energy company Rhino Resources, Halliburton and the University of Namibia (UNAM), inaugurating the Rhino-Halliburton Technology Center at UNAM’s Southern Campus in Keetmanshoop. According to the minister, “This state-of-the-art facility marks an important milestone in advancing geoscience education and research capabilities, not only at the Southern Campus but across Namibia. It will significantly enhance research and practical training in petroleum geology, engineering geology, geophysics and data analysis.”
The operational bases also serve to enhance local business opportunities. Minister Alweendo explained that they have increased the number of local registered vendors by 300% year-on-year, with more than 750 companies showing interest. The minister has also partnered with Namibian companies Vibrant and AURORA for the development of explosive loading and storage facilities (Vibrant) and the expansion of the Namibian port NAMPORT (AURORA). The Halliburton bases will further drive local business opportunities, laying the foundation for a strong petroleum base in Namibia.
“We are excited to enhance our operational efficiencies and to set new benchmarks in safety and sustainability within the industry,” Minister Alweendo concluded.
