Erongo Governor Neville Andre has called for strict adherence to health and safety and environmental standards in his address at the 2025 Erongo Offshore Safety Conference on International Workers' Day in Swakopmund on Thursday.

The governor highlighted the risks in the oil and gas industry, warning that progress without protection is an illusion, and called for stronger regulation, innovation, training, and community engagement. 

He stressed that safety must be embedded in every operation to protect workers and the environment.

He added that referencing historical disasters on oil rigs and industry data from the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers is important to keep in mind, stressing the maintenance of strict life-saving protocols. 

He cited Shell's Goal Zero programme as an illustration of how strategic vision may greatly lower incidents.

He also urged the sector to surpass legal standards, support innovation, equip employees to own safety, and give environmental and social responsibility first priority.

"Erongo's coastline is where ambition meets accountability – a proving ground for innovation that refuses to compromise on safety. Let me be clear: progress without protection is an illusion. Let this conference be where we turn rhetoric into results. 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."

The strategist of the Erongo Offshore Safety Conference, Knowledge Ipinge, advocated for the establishment of an independent offshore safety regulator in Namibia.

Ipinge also highlighted the risks offshore oil and gas workers face, urging a shift toward policies that prioritise workers' voices, mental health support, and strict safety oversight.

"We advocate for the establishment of an Independent Namibian Offshore Safety Regulator, equipped and empowered to uphold safety standards without bias or influence from corporate interests. The proposed independent regulator's mandate should be to ensure strict adherence to safety protocols and to mandate independent audits and inspections."

Mechanical engineer and general manager for Industria Comercio Servicos, Paulo Oliveira, expressed his company's intention to be part of the new oil and gas industry in Namibia.