The African Energy Chamber (AEC) has launched an internship programme, aiming to place African graduates with energy companies.
The Energy Pioneers Program (EPP) arranges paid internships for applicants.
The chamber has been working on the topic of internships for some time, although COVID-19 disrupted plans. “As Africans, it is difficult for us to get the valued internships that exist in many organisations,” EPP co-ordinator Keseena Chengadu told Energy Voice.
AEC has been working in the sector for a number of years and it has strong connections with a number of oil and gas companies. “We aim to act as an intermediary, connecting companies looking for talented individuals with the young people on the ground,” Chengadu said.
The EPP is in its early stages as yet, she continued, with agreements still under negotiation with companies.
“We need to finalise those before putting the names out,” she said. “A lot of companies have worked with us at our conferences,” she continued.
The companies will each take two interns per year. The more companies that sign up, the more internships that will be available.
“Since we launched on Monday, we’ve already received over 50 applications from candidates,” the EPP arranger said.
Local content
Applicants will fill in an online application before going into an interview with AEC. They then move into conversations with companies. The final decision rests on the companies, but the AEC has said it will continue to provide mentorship.
The AEC encourages potential applicants from all over the continent. It has highlighted four areas of particular interest: higher education students with energy interests, African nationals, predominantly women and from the communities in which resources have been discovered.
“It’s absolutely helping on the local content front. A lot of the companies that we’ve talked to have said they have difficulties finding the right interns – they’re very happy to have us as intermediaries,” Chengadu said. “It’s a great opportunity for companies and the interns.”
Updated at 11:03 am with hyperlink.
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