Kick-start your career in South Africa’s upstream oil and gas sector with the Petroleum Agency SA (PASA), which is offering three (3) internship opportunities over two years—February 2026 to January 2028—funded by the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA). This is an exceptional pathway for recent graduates to gain real industry exposure, build sought-after skills, and become job-ready for roles in geoscience, environmental compliance, or finance.
Why this internship matters
South Africa’s upstream petroleum industry needs work-ready talent with both technical knowledge and regulatory understanding. PASA’s internship combines hands-on project work, structured training, and mentorship, ensuring you develop the core capabilities employers are looking for—without prior work experience.
Who should apply (MQA funding criteria)
You’re eligible if you meet all of the following:
- South African citizen and currently unemployed
- Completed a relevant HET (Higher Education and Training) qualification
- Have not previously participated in any internship (MQA-funded or company-funded)
- No previous work experience required
What you’ll gain
Across all streams, interns will:
- Contribute to departmental outputs while developing technical and professional skills
- Attend discipline-specific training courses and relevant conferences
- Receive basic computer training (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Project—tailored to your current competency)
- Be trusted to work independently, tracking your own development and progress
Available internships & minimum qualifications
1) Intern: Petroleum Geoscience (x1)
Focus: Fundamentals of Geology & Geophysics for onshore and offshore oil and gas
Key exposure:
- Seismic data and interpretation
- Well log interpretation & correlation
- Basin & petroleum systems modelling
- Resource evaluation & prospect generation
- GIS and South African geology context
Minimum qualification: BSc (Hons) in Geosciences (4 years)
2) Intern: Environmental Compliance (x1)
Focus: Environmental governance in the upstream petroleum sector
Key exposure:
- Processing environmental authorisation applications
- Compliance monitoring and audits
- Practical application of environmental legislation
- Direct engagement with EAPs and regulatory authorities
Minimum qualification: BSc (Hons) in Environmental Sciences/Environmental Management/Natural Sciences (4 years)
3) Intern: Finance (x1)
Focus: Rotations through core finance functions
Key exposure:
- Accounts receivable & payable, petty cash, cash book
- Financial statements, budgeting & forecasting
- Asset management
- Taxation (VAT & Income Tax)
Minimum qualification: National Diploma in Accounting (3 years)
Required application documents (certified)
Applications will not be considered without all of the following certified documents:
- Academic Record / Statement of Results
- Degree Certificate or Letter of Completion
- Matric Certificate
- RSA Identity Document
Ensure certifications are clear and legible. Keep file names tidy and use PDF where possible.
How to apply (email only)
- Prepare a covering letter (state your stream: Petroleum Geoscience / Environmental Compliance / Finance).
- Attach a brief CV (max 3–4 pages) and all certified documents listed above.
- Email your application to: internship26-27@petroleumagencysa.com
- Subject line format (mandatory):
- Internship 26-27: Environmental Compliance (example—replace with your stream)
Tip: Submit early. Late or incomplete submissions are typically not considered.
DOWNLOAD THE PETROLEUM AGENCY SA INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME ADVERT HERE
How to stand out
- Align your cover letter to the stream: mention relevant modules, projects, or final-year research.
- Show real-world tools: list software you’ve used—e.g., Petrel/Kingdom/QGIS (Geoscience), EIA/EMPr familiarity (Environmental), or Pastel/Sage/Excel pivot tables (Finance).
- Quantify achievements (e.g., “processed 10+ datasets”, “built a cash-book reconciliation template”).
- Demonstrate curiosity: mention a recent technical paper, regulatory update, or case study you engaged with.
- Professional formatting: single PDF, clear headings, consistent fonts, no photos unless requested.
Duties & responsibilities (what day-to-day looks like)
- Technical tasks: analysis, modelling, interpretation, drafting of submissions, and reporting
- Compliance & governance: checklists, audit support, regulatory correspondence (Env. stream)
- Financial operations: processing transactions, reconciliations, month-end support (Finance stream)
- Training & development: attend workshops, complete short courses, present learnings to your team
- Collaboration: work with multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders
Important notes
- This is an MQA-funded internship—no prior internship experience is allowed.
- Ensure your qualification meets the minimum requirement for the specific stream.
- Only three positions are available—competition will be strong.
- If references are requested later, prepare two academic and one character referee.
Final checklist before you hit “Send”
- Cover letter referencing the exact stream
- Brief, updated CV
- Certified Academic Record / Statement of Results
- Certified Degree Certificate or Letter of Completion
- Certified Matric Certificate
- Certified RSA ID
- Correct subject line format
- All files readable and under typical email size limits
Ready to launch your career in upstream oil & gas?
Apply now to the Petroleum Agency SA Internship Programme 2026/2027 and build the skills that matter.
CLOSING DATE: 26 SEPTEMBER 2025
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