Mines and Energy Minister Tom Alweendo underscored the importance of not identifying the oil and gas industry as the sole driver of economic transformation or job creation.
Speaking at the launch of the National Industrial Baseline Survey, Alweendo pointed out that by the time the sector begins production, the direct employment generated could be minimal.
Alweendo also expressed concerns that if the oil and gas sector is not managed responsibly, it could worsen the existing inequality gap in the country.
He emphasized that, without careful attention, the economic benefits of the industry might not be evenly distributed across all Namibians, despite its potential advantages.
Another concern is the potential for "Dutch Disease," an economic phenomenon that refers to the negative effects resulting from a sudden increase in a country's wealth, typically caused by the discovery and export of natural resources such as oil or gas in this case.
"We need to make sure that even with the local content and all the capabilities we are talking about, let's make sure that those capabilities are really spread across the average Namibian so that we don't create an enclave within Namibian society where people are rich simply because they had that opportunity to participate in some of the things we are talking about. It is very, very important that we don't fail in what we need to do."
The Industrial Baseline Survey, conducted by Deloitte, aims to assess a country's industrial and workforce readiness for oil and gas projects, evaluating available resources, future development needs, and identifying potential opportunities for enhancing capacity and capability.
Alweendo also emphasized the importance of creating awareness for those interested in participating and encouraging them to engage in the process.
With regard to skills and capacity, Alweendo reiterated the need for vocational training within the country throughout the phases and to create joint ventures.
The survey indicates that an estimated seven thousand jobs are expected to be created during the production phase, including 600 direct jobs, 600 indirect jobs, and 5,800 induced jobs.