Green push targets 32 000 jobs
Namibia is positioning the green industrialisation sector as the foundation of a US$29.3 billion industrial expansion that aims to reshape the country's transport, energy and manufacturing infrastructure over the next quarter-century.
A presentation by Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P) officials David Nghimwenavali and Jona Musheko to an international study tour in China outlines a national industrial blueprint requiring investment in railways, ports, electricity networks, industrial zones and dedicated hydrogen infrastructure by 2050.
The presentation traces the evolution of the initiative, from the establishment of the Green Hydrogen Council in July 2021 to the adoption of the Namibia Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Strategy in November 2022, which identified three development valleys and set out the actions needed to establish a green hydrogen industry capable of transforming the economy.
The largest share of the planned capital expenditure, approximately US$26 billion, will be directed towards green hydrogen derivatives such as ammonia.
An additional US$1.5 billion is earmarked for low-carbon industrial projects, US$1.2 billion for mineral refining and around US$620 million for renewable energy hardware manufacturing.
The presentation identifies opportunities in renewable energy hardware manufacturing, mineral refining, low-carbon industries and green hydrogen derivatives, while stressing that awareness-building, financial de-risking and government facilitation will be essential to enable Namibian companies to participate in the emerging supply chain.
The programme further estimates that its financing mechanisms could unlock between US$250 million and US$1 billion in low-cost loans for the sector.
The government has identified five strategic infrastructure projects, including expanding rail links between mining districts, industrial centres and ports; modernising port facilities to accommodate new export industries; constructing common-user hydrogen infrastructure such as pipelines, storage facilities and specialised export terminals; strengthening the national electricity grid through renewable generation; and establishing industrial zones capable of hosting manufacturing and processing industries.
Among its immediate priorities are the enactment of a Synthetic Fuels Act, the establishment of an investor support office to serve as a single point of contact for developers, the development of governance models for common-user infrastructure, and the alignment of Namibia's regulatory framework with international certification, health, safety and environmental standards.
Work is already under way on a common-user infrastructure best-practice study, a Namibia-South Africa hydrogen pipeline pre-feasibility study, the development of a competitive fiscal regime, the launch of a nationwide wind measurement campaign and Strategic Environmental and Social Assessments intended to reduce environmental and permitting risks for investors.
The programme is also advancing a global best-practice study on common-user infrastructure, a cross-border hydrogen pipeline study linking southern Namibia with South Africa, work on green shipping corridors and maritime decarbonisation, offshore wind feasibility assessments, and studies identifying suitable locations for future hydrogen production outside environmentally sensitive areas.
The NGH2P estimates that more than 32 000 direct jobs will need to be filled between 2026 and 2030, yet Namibia currently produces only about 13% of the graduates required in green hydrogen-related fields.
Shortages are particularly acute among renewable energy technicians, heavy equipment operators, wind turbine technicians, scaffolders, structural steel erectors and construction workers.
To address this gap, 273 Namibian students have already received scholarships, while a national skills development strategy has been completed with support from international partners, including the European Union, GIZ, the Namibia Training Authority and the World Bank.
The presentation estimates demand for 2,200 solar installation technicians, compared with a current supply of just 35.
Namibia has no trained wind turbine service technicians, scaffolders, structural steel erectors or riggers, despite thousands of such positions expected to be created as projects move into construction and operation.
Seven projects are now at various stages of implementation, including Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, HyIron Oshivela, Cleanergy Solutions, the Daures Green Hydrogen Village, Zhero, Hop Hydro and HDF Energy. Some pilot projects have already entered production, while larger commercial developments remain in the feasibility or planning stages.
