Petroleum commissioner Maggy Shino said President Hage Geingob was an energy champion, as he clearly articulated Namibia’s aggressive energy ambitions.
Geingob died on February 4, 2024, in Windhoek.
Shino, who gave the opening speech at the International Association of Drillers and Contractors Conference and Exhibition in Windhoek Tuesday, asked the delegates to observe a minute of silence for Geingob.
said Geingob was a remarkable leader who dedicated his life to serving our nation with integrity, compassion and dedication.
According to Shino, her last memory of President Geingob’s involvement with the petroleum industry was at the Africa Energy Week in October last year.
“Continuing and forging ahead to address the pertinent issues of energy security affecting Africa is what President Geingob would have wanted,” Shino said.
She added: “Therefore, we must go on, even though he is no longer cheering us on. It is because of the brave spirit of the Namibian people that, in light of the death of our beloved President, we understand that concerns may rise.”
Shino said despite this loss, the operations within the petroleum industry will continue without interruption.
“We are committed to upholding standards of excellence and continuity in administering this key industry, ensuring that the industry remains stable and resilient during this transition period. With your support, our dedicated team will continue to uphold our commitments and support and serve our stakeholders and partners with the same level of professionalism and integrity.
“As the petroleum commissioner, I stand here today to reaffirm our government commitments to supporting the growth and development of the oil and gas sector. We recognise the importance of fostering an environment that encourages investment, promotes innovation, and safeguards the interests of both the industry stakeholders and the Namibian people in their respective broader communities,” she said.
Shino added that even though our country’s current times are dark, the Namibian subsurface has continued to deliver beyond our expectations.
