Venus project tipped to create 7 000 jobs

The development of TotalEnergies’ proposed Venus oil project could create an estimated 7 000 jobs during its production phase, according to an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) prepared by SLR Consulting.Of the projected jobs, about 600 are expected to be direct employment opportunities, with the remaining positions comprising indirect and induced jobs across the wider economy.The ESIA was prepared for TotalEnergies and its joint-venture partners QatarEnergy, Impact Oil and Gas and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor).SLR Consulting said the employment projections were informed by an economic assessment conducted by auditing firm Deloitte. The study estimates that, during production, 600 jobs would be direct, a further 600 indirect, and about 5 800 induced.“Primary drivers would be private household services, wholesale and retail trade, and transport industries,” SLR Consulting said, noting that these sectors alone could account for more than 4 200 jobs.Local employment focusSLR Consulting said TotalEnergies had committed to supporting local employment and community empowerment, particularly in the //Kharas Region, where the Venus project is located.“The joint venture is committed to working with communities within the area of impact to encourage and facilitate as much local employment and participation of local contractors as possible,” the consultancy said.However, it noted that Namibia currently has limited upstream oil and gas products and services, while civil construction, transport and logistics, workforce services, and metal fabrication are better represented in the local market.‘Quick wins’ identifiedDespite skills constraints in upstream oil and gas, SLR Consulting said a range of auxiliary opportunities could emerge across agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, water supply, construction, wholesale and retail trade, finance and insurance, as well as accommodation and food services.“The areas where quick wins for Namibian entities are possible show that 13 supply chains have minimal shortcomings and could deliver immediate opportunities,” SLR Consulting said.However, it added that a further 18 supply chains currently lack sufficient scale or compliance with industry standards to participate meaningfully in the oil and gas sector.Skills development criticalSLR Consulting acknowledged that offshore operations linked to the Venus project would require highly specialised skills, particularly for drilling, subsea infrastructure installation and the operation of floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facilities.“Realistically, the majority of offshore employment related to drilling and FPSO operations is likely to comprise international crews,” the consultancy said.It added, however, that longer-term drilling contracts and the anticipated 20-year lifespan of the project could create opportunities for Namibians as skills are developed over time, including in onshore support roles.SLR Consulting said the largest employment impact was expected to come from indirect and induced jobs, supported by targeted skills development and strong implementation of Namibia’s local content policy.“With a firm commitment by the joint venture to local content, training and skills development, more Namibian workers could progressively access higher-value roles within the oil and gas sector,” it said.

Venus project tipped to create 7 000 jobs

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Namibian Sun 2026-06-15

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Venus project tipped to create 7 000 jobs

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Namibian Sun 2026-06-15

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