Petroleum Agency SA 2-Year Graduate Internship Programme 2025

Launching a high-impact career in South Africa’s oil & gas / energy sector with real project exposure, mentoring, and accredited skills while getting paid.

Who is Petroleum Agency SA

Petroleum Agency South Africa (PA SA) is a subsidiary of CEF SOC Ltd that regulates and promotes South Africa’s petroleum exploration and production on behalf of the state—managing data, licensing, compliance, and investment into the upstream energy value chain.

What is the Petroleum Agency SA Internship

A two-year paid internship (2026–2027) funded by the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) for three unemployed South African graduates in Petroleum Geoscience, Environmental Compliance, and Finance. The programme bridges academic theory with real-world delivery through rotations, courses, workshops, and conference exposure, starting February 2026 in Cape Town.

What you will gain:

24 months of structured, paid workplace experience in a national energy regulator
Role-specific technical training + short courses, workshops, and conference exposure
Mentoring, PDP tracking, and MS Office upskilling (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
A strong professional network across geoscience, environmental governance, and finance
Clear deliverables that translate into portfolio-ready achievements

Candidate role during the programme:

Support day-to-day departmental tasks and project work
Apply academic knowledge to real upstream energy challenges
Participate in audits, reviews, data analysis, reporting, and stakeholder engagement
Maintain professional standards, ethics, and development logs

Programmes/Jobs offered (Internships)

Internship: Petroleum Geoscience (BSc Hons in Geosciences, 4-year)
Internship: Environmental Compliance (BSc Hons in Environmental Sciences/Management/Natural Sciences, 4-year)
Internship: Finance (National Diploma in Accounting, 3-year)

Are you Eligible? requirements:

South African citizen, unemployed and first-time intern (no prior internship)
Completed relevant HET qualification (as per stream)
No previous work experience
Applications from designated groups are welcomed in line with diversity and inclusion

Ideal Candidate exhibits:

Analytical thinking and problem solving
Clear, professional communication and teamwork
Initiative, adaptability, eagerness to learn
Proficiency in MS Office and strong attention to detail
Integrity, accountability, and a service mindset

Core Skill Values:

Professionalism and ethics
Scientific and regulatory rigor
Evidence-based decision making
Stakeholder orientation and teamwork
Continuous learning and safety consciousness

How to Apply?:

Email subject line: “Internship 26-27: [Your stream e.g., Environmental Compliance]”
Send Cover Letter + CV + certified copies of: SA ID, Matric Certificate, Academic Record/Statement of Results, Degree Certificate/Letter of Completion
Submission email: internship26-27@petroleumagencysa.com
Only emailed, complete applications considered. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Mentioned when the application commences:

Recruitment open now; programme commences February 2026 in Cape Town.

Stipend/Remuneration:

Paid internship funded by MQA (market-aligned for graduate internships).

Closing Date:

Friday, 26 September 2025 at 16h30

Note:

Application deadline: 26 September 2025, 16h30
Program duration: 24 months (Feb 2026 – Jan 2028)
Stipend: Paid (MQA-funded graduate internship)
Restrictions: SA citizens only; unemployed; no prior internship or work experience; three posts only; diversity preference applies

Recommendations

Tailor your cover letter to the specific stream and call out aligned modules, projects, or dissertations
Combine your academic work into a one-page portfolio snapshot with outcomes and tools (e.g., GIS, seismic packages, audit checklists, Excel models)
Use a clear file-naming convention: Name_Surname_Stream_Docs.pdf
Request references early and verify that all certifications are recent and legible

Tips for applying

Keep your email concise with bullet points of key skills + software
For Geoscience: highlight seismic interpretation, well correlation, basin/petroleum systems modelling, GIS
For Environmental: reference EIA/EMPr, NEMA compliance, audit exposure, stakeholder engagement
For Finance: show AP/AR, petty cash, budgeting, assets, tax concepts, and Excel proficiency
Proofread, submit once, and set a follow-up reminder one week before the deadline