Erongo governor Neville Andre says the upstream petroleum sector is a high-risk, capital-intensive, technologically driven enclave sector.
In his keynote address at the two-day Erongo Offshore Safety Conference in Swakopmund, Andre said that the government is clear that all participants in the industry will be held accountable to environmental laws and international best standards practices given the risks associated with the petroleum sector and the potentially devastating impacts when not managed effectively.
He also said that local content will not be pursued at the expense of quality, health, safety, labour, and environmental standards.
“Progress without protection is an illusion. Let this conference be where we turn rhetoric into results,” Andre said, adding that the oil and gas industry is a high-stakes frontier.
“From the Atlantic’s depths to the precision of logistics, every operation teeters between opportunity and risk,” he said.
According to the governor, a single lapse can erase years of trust, destroy ecosystems, and derail Namibia’s rise as a global energy partner.
He added that health, safety, and environment are the cornerstone of the oil and gas industry and vital for safeguarding human health and protecting the environment.
“Besides, fostering health, safety, and environment practices is essential for operational efficiency, attracting investment, and ultimately driving sustainable growth within the industry,” he said, encouraging the industrialization of health, safety, and environment across the sector.
Andre said adjusting to new rules might seem straightforward, but the opportunity lies in cultivating a learner mindset characterized by curiosity, openness, and willingness to share and learn from one another.
“It involves fostering an environment where individuals feel safe to speak up, admit mistakes, and collaborate to overcome challenges. It’s about caring for each other and achieving the best outcome,” he explained.
He said sticking to the rules will reduce the number of accidents and protect the employees while reducing injuries and, ultimately, death.
According to Andre, based on the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) statistics from 2000-2010, more than 381 employees and contractors died worldwide in work-related incidents mainly due to failing to comply with the safety rules.
He said the conference gathered to dissect the safety ecosystem—from the Petroleum Act of 1991 to the human spirit that fuels this industry—and to forge a future where risk is managed and mastered.
Andrea added that to build this future, there is a need to rally around five pillars – regulatory compliance & enforcement, technology and innovation, human factor and training, environmental stewardship, as well as community and collaboration.
The governor said Namibia’s Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act 1991 mandates EIAs, enforces pollution accountability under Section 71, and ensures financial safeguards for decommissioning.
“But laws are only as strong as their enforcement. All stakeholders collaborate closely with the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, Educational Institutions such as the Namibia Institute of Mining Technology and global partners like the International Labor Organization to ensure no shortcut undermines safety,” he said.
Andre said the Erongo Region is Namibia’s offshore heartbeat, and to lead, the region must treat the Petroleum Act 1991 as a starting line, not a finish line. He also said the government must marry oversight with agility, ensuring regulations evolve with technology.
Academia (Vocational Training Institutions, Colleges and Universities) must pioneer African solutions for challenges through affordable tech and localized training. Additionally, every worker must be a safety ambassador.
“The Petroleum Act 1991 and other related Government Policies, global conventions, and the tools we’ve discussed are not just frameworks—they are our covenant with the future,” Andre said.
