NUST to lead €2 million EU-funded IGNITE project
The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) has been awarded leadership of the IGNITE Green Hydrogen Project, a €2 million (around N$40.8 million) European Union (EU)-funded initiative aimed at closing Namibia’s renewable energy skills gap.The project, which begins in October and runs for 24 months, will focus on building capacity in the country’s fast-emerging green hydrogen and Power-to-X sectors. NUST will head a consortium that includes Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, Zhero Pty, NamWater, and the Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT).
The IGNITE Project will train 300 unemployed TVET graduates, upskill 40 trainers, and update qualifications to meet industry standards. By aligning vocational training with the needs of the hydrogen industry, the project aims to position Namibia more firmly in the global green hydrogen value chain.
Green future powered by skills
At a signing ceremony at NIMT’s Arandis campus, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, described the initiative as key to shaping the workforce that will drive Namibia’s sustainable future.
“Together, the EU and Namibia are building something remarkable – a green hydrogen industry that can make your country a global leader in this modern, sustainable sector,” he said.
He noted that through its global initiatives, the EU has already mobilised more than €1 billion in loans and grants, which are expected to create tens of thousands of jobs by 2040. “But none of this is possible without skills. That is why this IGNITE Green Hydrogen Project is so important,” Síkela said.
Building pathways
NUST Vice-Chancellor Prof Erold Naomab echoed the Commissioner’s words, emphasising that Namibia’s energy transition will require more than engineers and scientists. “We also need artisans and technicians to install, operate and maintain renewable energy systems, and entrepreneurs to create local businesses and jobs across the hydrogen value chain,” he said.
He added that the IGNITE Project, working with NIMT, NamWater, Hyphen, Zhero and the Keetmanshoop Vocational Training Centre, will strengthen vocational pathways and create progression routes from TVET to higher education. The initiative will also see trainers upskilled, curricula updated, and programmes aligned with industry needs to ensure young Namibians can find meaningful work in this new sector.
Prof Naomab thanked the EU for its long-standing support: “This grant adds another important building block to more than 25 years of collaboration with NUST.”