The University of Namibia (UNAM) southern campus has celebrated the significant research progress and output of its more than N$130 million Rhino-Halliburton Technology Centre, highlighting its role in driving research excellence. 

This was highlighted during a stakeholder engagement session and gala dinner held in Keetmanshoop.

The occasion marks a significant milestone in the partnership between Halliburton and Rhino Resources, which funded the establishment of the Centre. 

The centre was inaugurated in 2024. 

"Traditionally, for instance, our masters of petroleum geology students would often do their research on seismic data that is hosted in Namcor. And these are confidential data; you have to be in Namcor to do your project and training. Now, we have the centre, and we give the new data set to do training and research at the Southern Campus," said Head of Geosciences at UNAM, Abisai Vatuva.

Also addressing the occasion were representatives of both Halliburton and Rhino Resources. 

An advisor to the President and Deputy Head of the Upstream Petroleum Unit, Carlo McLeod, described it as a celebration of vision, investment, and partnership. 

"It is about what happens when we align the ingenuity of the private sector, the mission of our academic institutions, and the strategic vision of our government under the capable leadership of Her Excellency  Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndiatwah. The establishment of the Rhino-Halliburton Technology Research Centre, valued at over N$100 million, is a shining example of what we mean by local upliftment, local participation and local content."

The centre offers enhanced training and research capabilities in areas like petroleum geology, engineering geology, geophysics, and data analysis, contributing to local capacity building and supporting Namibia's emerging oil and gas industries.