The oil industry should create more opportunities for young women, an idea highlighted by women during the Mozambique Energy and Industry Conference-MEIS2022.

Young Mozambican girls, trained in different areas linked or not to the oil industry, such as graduates in Petroleum Engineering, Geology, Chemistry or even Mechanical and Energy Engineering cried out for greater inclusion in the oil and gas sector. The cry for inclusion of women in energy came during a panel that sought to reflect around the place of Women in the extractive industry.

The different speakers, specialists in the various branches of the industry, such as Jónia Presado, Barbara Habib, Jéssica Matavele or even Patrícia Quirino converged on the idea that in recent years there has been an increase in terms of women's participation, in a sector marked by a massive male presence, however they consider that the scenario is still far from ideal, and there is therefore a need to combine more efforts to promote more effective changes.

Keilla Ibraimo, a young graduate in Oil and Gas Engineering, with her irreverence drew the attention of those present, and even drew applause from the audience, when she categorically and loudly affirmed that her academic and professional training allows her to perform engineering work with levels of excellence. I am very good at what I do," the young engineer underlined.

Ibraimo, who thanks to her persistence, managed to get a professional internship at the National Petroleum Institute, also argues that young girls like her should have more spaces for professional insertion in the energy industry through internships or through opportunities for paid work on an equal footing, since the youth, upon completing their studies, have, what the speaker at the time considered to be a lot of "thirst" to work and expose their talents and knowledge.

The panelists who spoke under the moderation of Joceline Machevo-an expert on the energy sector, seconded the idea of having a greater commitment from the top management of the industry, and added that there is a need to promote mentorships to empower more young girls and induce structural and positive changes, towards a reality of greater gender equity in the sector and in society in general.

It should be noted that the Conference on Energy and Industry in Mozambique-MEIS2022, which counted with the participation of INP as a highlighted panelist, took place in Maputo, over the past week, and brought together various players in the extractive sector, including industry professionals, business class, company managers, government and academic entities.