• Africa Global Logistics has invested N$794 million ($43.12 million) to expand logistics platforms in Namibia.

• Staff numbers grew from 8 to over 100 in 18 months as AGL positions itself for oil development in the Orange Basin.

• The company is strengthening local content through university partnerships and training programs.

French-based group Africa Global Logistics (AGL) has committed N$794 million ($43.12 million) to Namibia’s logistics sector as the country advances towards first oil production in the offshore Orange Basin. Speaking at the Wider African Energy Summit in Aberdeen, AGL Oil and Gas Director Thomas Bonnetain said the investment is part of the company’s long-term plan to support international operators entering Namibia’s rapidly expanding petroleum market.

Bonnetain noted that AGL’s footprint in the country has accelerated sharply, with its workforce rising from eight to more than 100 employees over the past 18 months. He said this expansion aligns with Namibia’s broader goals to deepen local participation across the energy value chain. “We have invested €40 million to build logistics platforms in a country where we have been operating for 25 years,” he said.

The company has also signed an agreement with a Windhoek-based university to build a talent pipeline and ensure Namibians are trained for upcoming opportunities in oil and gas logistics. According to Bonnetain, all contracts under AGL’s Namibian operations are handled by local stakeholders, with the company employing and training local staff in line with its regional strategy. He cited AGL’s fully integrated logistics support for Shell’s operations in Gabon, which generated 220 jobs in Port Gentil, as an example of the model Namibia can expect.

Industry stakeholders at the summit stressed that local content can only be effective if policies are realistic and aligned with existing capacity. Colibri Business Development CEO Ileana Ferber warned that emerging oil producers must calibrate targets to match current supplier capabilities and the readiness of educational institutions. “It’s important for policies to have targets set on realistic expectations,” she said, adding that Africa must view local content as “a journey, not an overnight process.”

AGL, formerly known as Bolloré Africa Logistics, which was acquired by MSC Group at the end of 2022, is one of Africa’s largest multimodal logistics operators, employing 23,000 people across 50 countries. Its investment in Namibia comes as the country positions itself as a future oil and gas hub, with logistics infrastructure expected to play a defining role in supporting exploration, early production, and eventual crude exports.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang