Petroleum Agency SA Internship Programme 2027/2028

Petroleum Agency SA Internship Programme 2027/2028

Petroleum Agency SA is inviting qualified unemployed graduates to apply for its Two-Year Internship Programme for 2027/2028. The programme offers an opportunity for graduates to gain practical workplace experience, develop professional skills and acquire industry-related knowledge in different fields.

The internship programme is funded by the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) and is intended to support the development of graduates who meet the programme’s eligibility requirements. The planned commencement date is 1 February 2027, and the programme will run until 31 January 2029.

Available Internship Positions

Petroleum Agency SA is offering internship opportunities in the following fields for the 2027/2028 programme:

1. Petroleum Geology / Geophysics – 3 Positions

2. Information Management: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) – 1 Position

3. Information Management: Software Development – 1 Position

4. Environmental Science / Environmental Management – 1 Position

5. Procurement – 1 Position

6. Company Secretary – 1 Position

7. Licensing and Legal Compliance – 2 Positions

Closing date: 9 November 2026 at 16:30.

The opportunities are based in Cape Town, Western Cape, and cover several disciplines, including petroleum geology and geophysics, geographic information systems, software development, supply chain management, environmental sciences and legal services.

Unemployed graduates who have completed relevant qualifications are encouraged to review the available opportunities and submit their applications before the closing date.

About Petroleum Agency SA

Petroleum Agency SA is a subsidiary of CEF SOC Limited. The agency is responsible for promoting and regulating the exploration and exploitation of petroleum resources, including oil and gas, within South Africa.

Its responsibilities cover onshore and offshore petroleum resources, with its work carried out on behalf of the South African government in accordance with the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act.

The agency operates in a specialised industry that requires knowledge and skills in areas such as geology, geophysics, environmental management, information technology, procurement and legal compliance.

Through its internship programme, graduates can gain exposure to professional working environments while developing skills relevant to their qualifications and future careers.

Petroleum Agency SA Internship Programme 2027/2028 Details

Programme: Two-Year Internship Programme 2027/2028 Number of graduates: 10, as stated in the programme overview Duration: Two years Start date: 1 February 2027 End date: 31 January 2029 Location: Cape Town, Western Cape Funding: Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) Closing date: 9 November 2026 at 16:30 Application method: Email Experience: Workplace training and practical experience

The programme overview states that funding is intended for ten graduates over two years. The advertisement contains several listed disciplines and post counts, so applicants should confirm the relevant position and its requirements before submitting an application.

Minimum Requirements for the Internship Programme

Applicants must meet the general eligibility requirements established for the MQA-funded internship programme.

The following criteria apply:

• Applicants must be unemployed South African citizens.
• Applicants must have completed a relevant qualification at a higher education and training level.
• Applicants with qualifications from TVET colleges may apply where they hold an N6 Diploma. Other TVET qualifications are not accepted under the stated programme criteria.
• Applicants must not have previously benefited from an internship programme, whether funded by the MQA or by a company.
• Applicants must have completed the relevant qualification before applying.
• Applicants must submit all the required supporting documents.
• Applicants must apply for a discipline that matches their qualifications.

Candidates should carefully check the minimum qualification for their preferred position. Meeting the general eligibility requirements does not automatically mean that an applicant qualifies for every internship advertised.

Available Internship Positions

Petroleum Agency SA lists opportunities in several professional fields. Each position provides exposure to a particular area of the organisation’s operations.

1. Petroleum Geology and Geophysics Internships

Number of interns: 3 Minimum qualification: BSc Honours in Geosciences (four-year qualification)

The Petroleum Geology and Geophysics internship is intended for graduates interested in the scientific study of the Earth and the identification and evaluation of petroleum resources.

Successful candidates will learn about the fundamentals of geology and geophysics as applied to the oil and gas industry in local and international markets.

The programme will expose interns to several technical areas, including:

• Seismic interpretation.
• Basin modelling.
• Petroleum systems.
• Prospect generation and evaluation.
• South African geology.
• Geological and geophysical applications in petroleum exploration.

Interns will develop knowledge and practical skills that can support future employment opportunities as Earth Scientists.

Candidates with a BSc Honours qualification in Geosciences who meet the general programme requirements can submit their applications to the designated email address.

2. Information Management: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Internship

Number of interns: 1 Minimum qualification: BSc Honours degree in Geology, Geophysics and/or Geographic Information Systems, as specified in the advertisement

The GIS internship focuses on information management and the use of spatial data in the oil and gas industry.

The successful candidate will learn about petroleum exploration and production data management, Geographic Information Systems and spatial data management applications.

The programme also provides practical exposure to managing datasets generated through oil and gas exploration activities.

Interns may work with industry interpretation and data management software, including Petrel, Kingdom and ESRI ArcGIS.

The experience is intended to equip candidates with relevant tools and knowledge for future opportunities as Earth Scientists, Geoscientists or professionals working in oil and gas data management.

Applicants should ensure that their qualifications match the stated requirements before applying.

3. Procurement Officer Internship

Number of interns: 1 Minimum qualification: National Diploma in Supply Chain Management or equivalent

The Procurement Officer internship offers practical experience in supply chain management and procurement administration.

The intern will work with experienced Supply Chain Management staff and contribute to the department’s administrative activities.

Responsibilities include supporting the preparation, issuing and management of procurement documentation. This includes requests for quotations (RFQs) and requests for proposals (RFPs), as well as processes leading to contract awards and amendments.

The internship also provides exposure to procurement procedures and relevant supply chain management practices.

Graduates with a National Diploma in Supply Chain Management or an equivalent qualification should consider this opportunity if they meet the programme’s general eligibility requirements.

4. Information Management: Software Developer Internship

Number of interns: 1 Minimum qualification: Bachelor’s degree at NQF Level 7 or higher in a relevant field

The Software Developer internship is designed for graduates interested in software development, information technology and digital transformation.

The programme provides practical workplace exposure to software development, application integration, Microsoft technologies, data management, automation and analytics within the upstream petroleum sector.

The successful candidate will gain experience in areas such as:

• Software development and database management.
• Application programming interfaces (APIs).
• Microsoft Power Platform.
• SharePoint.
• Power BI.
• Azure.
• Business application design, development, testing and support.
• Automation and analytics initiatives.
• Technical d