Petroleum Agency SA Internship Programme 2026/2027

Organisation: Petroleum Agency South Africa (PASA)
Duration: February 2026 – January 2028 (2 years)
Closing Date: 26 September 2025
Funding: Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA)

About the Programme

The Petroleum Agency SA (PASA), South Africa’s official regulator and promoter of the upstream petroleum sector, is offering three internship opportunities for the 2026/2027 intake.

Running for two years, this internship is fully funded by the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) and gives unemployed graduates the chance to gain practical exposure, build professional skills, and position themselves for a career in the oil and gas industry.

This programme is designed for graduates with no previous work or internship experience who are eager to contribute to South Africa’s developing petroleum sector.

Why This Internship Matters

The upstream oil and gas sector requires skilled professionals with both technical expertise and regulatory awareness. This internship combines hands-on projects, structured training, and mentorship, helping graduates to:

• Gain real industry exposure.
• Build technical and professional skills aligned with global standards.
• Learn workplace readiness and compliance in a highly regulated environment.
• Work alongside industry experts in geoscience, environmental governance, or finance.

Internship Streams Available

1. Petroleum Geoscience Intern (x1)

• Focus: Fundamentals of Geology & Geophysics for oil and gas.
• Exposure Includes:
  • Seismic data and interpretation.
  • Well log interpretation and correlation.
  • Basin and petroleum systems modelling.
  • Resource evaluation and prospect generation.
  • GIS applications in petroleum exploration.
• Minimum Qualification: BSc (Hons) in Geosciences (4 years).

2. Environmental Compliance Intern (x1)

• Focus: Environmental governance in upstream petroleum.
• Exposure Includes:
  • Processing environmental authorisation applications.
  • Compliance monitoring and audits.
  • Practical application of environmental legislation.
  • Engagement with environmental practitioners and regulatory bodies.
• Minimum Qualification: BSc (Hons) in Environmental Sciences / Environmental Management / Natural Sciences (4 years).

3. Finance Intern (x1)

• Focus: Finance operations in a regulatory environment.
• Exposure Includes:
  • Accounts payable, receivable, petty cash, and cash book.
  • Preparation of financial statements.
  • Budgeting and forecasting.
  • Asset management and taxation (VAT & Income Tax).
• Minimum Qualification: National Diploma in Accounting (3 years).

Minimum Requirements (MQA Funding Criteria)

To qualify, applicants must:

• Be a South African citizen.
• Be currently unemployed.
• Have completed a relevant HET qualification.
• Not have taken part in any internship before (MQA-funded or otherwise).
• Have no prior work experience.

What You’ll Gain

Across all internship streams, participants will:

• Contribute to real departmental outputs and projects.
• Attend industry-relevant training and conferences.
• Develop digital proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Project.
• Learn to work independently and track personal progress.
• Gain references and skills that are directly employable in the sector.

Required Application Documents (Certified)

Applications must include all of the following:

• Certified Academic Record / Statement of Results.
• Certified Degree Certificate or Letter of Completion.
• Certified Matric Certificate.
• Certified South African ID.
• Cover letter and a concise CV (3–4 pages max).

Note: Only clear, legible copies will be considered. Use PDF format where possible.

How to Apply

1. Draft a cover letter, clearly stating the internship stream you’re applying for (Petroleum Geoscience / Environmental Compliance / Finance).
2. Prepare a concise CV (max 3–4 pages).
3. Attach all required certified documents listed above.
4. Email your application to: internship26-27@petroleumagencysa.com

Email subject line format (mandatory):
Internship 26-27: [Your Stream]
Example: Internship 26-27: Environmental Compliance

Tips to Make Your Application Stand Out

• Highlight relevant modules, projects, or research from your studies.
• Showcase technical tools you’ve used (e.g., Petrel, Kingdom, QGIS, Pastel, Sage).
• Quantify achievements (e.g., “developed a reconciliation template” or “analysed 10+ datasets”).
• Keep formatting clean, professional, and consistent—single PDF file recommended.

Important Notes

• This is an MQA-funded programme – prior internship or work experience will disqualify applicants.
• Only three positions are available, making competition high.
• Prepare at least two academic and one character referee in case references are requested.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Conclusion

The Petroleum Agency SA Internship Programme 2026/2027 is a rare two-year opportunity for unemployed graduates to build meaningful careers in South Africa’s upstream oil and gas industry. With three internship streams in Geoscience, Environmental Compliance, and Finance, this programme equips participants with the technical skills, compliance knowledge, and workplace readiness required in this fast-evolving sector.

If you’re ready to launch your career, submit your application before 26 September 2025.