Local capability in green hydrogen will define Namibia’s industrial future
Opinion piece
Green hydrogen projects present a significant opportunity for long-term economic transformation in Namibia and could redefine its industrial development. The country is in a highly competitive position, supported by exceptional solar and wind resources and rising global demand for cleaner energy. Securing a major international Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) partner shows that these projects have moved beyond conceptual planning and are now preparing for full engineering and construction.
The real test, however, will be whether Namibia can build the capabilities, skills and industries needed to ensure the benefits remain in the economy in the long term.
Achieving this depends on localisation, structured knowledge transfer and sustained investment in local capacity across the value chain.
Building value
Green hydrogen projects depend on extensive engineering, procurement and construction capability, which is why international EPC expertise is essential in the early phases.
These companies bring experience in designing and executing complex infrastructure, but their involvement is only part of the story.
For Namibia, localisation is the mechanism that ensures the sector delivers local jobs, supplier participation and industrial development, rather than functioning only as an export operation. This is essential to ensure that communities benefit and value stays in the country.
Creating this capacity requires deliberate focus. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) need structured pathways into the supply chain rather than being excluded by contracts that are too large or too capital-intensive. Breaking down scopes, such as dividing work across cabling, mounting or procurement, enables smaller firms to participate.
Local content policies also need to be respected by global contractors so that Namibian businesses can grow. This approach will support domestic job creation, widen industrial capability and strengthen the foundations of a long-term hydrogen economy.
Attracting global expertise
In the short term, the specialised expertise required for EPC-scale projects must come from abroad. Namibia can attract these skills by ensuring that working conditions are competitive, particularly around long-term visas, security, housing and education for families.
Extending visas from two to five years will help bring in senior specialists who are more willing to relocate when they know they can remain in the country long enough to deliver projects and support skills transfer.
Knowledge transfer must be built into project structures. When international project leaders work alongside Namibian engineers, technicians and managers, skills development becomes part of the project’s daily operation. Over time, local teams gain the technical and managerial experience needed to run future projects independently. Strengthening technical and vocational training is equally important, especially in electrical and mechanical disciplines, welding, process engineering and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes at universities. Without these foundations, localisation cannot progress at the scale required.
Strengthening the
industrial ecosystem
A successful hydrogen economy depends on more than energy resources and EPC expertise. Industrial infrastructure must be upgraded to support large-scale development.
Roads, ports, water systems and transmission lines require investment, as gaps in these areas can slow or even derail projects. The condition of infrastructure in places such as Walvis Bay illustrates the urgency of addressing road quality and capacity before demand increases.
The domestic supply chain also needs attention. Namibia still faces limited industrial capacity, skills shortages and uneven SME involvement.
Supplier development programmes, such as those already taking place in the energy and oil and gas sectors, are a constructive way of identifying capabilities, understanding gaps and encouraging joint ventures where necessary. This provides a more accurate picture of what Namibian suppliers can support today and what must be developed for the future.
Long-term economic impact will depend on growing downstream industries, including manufacturing of fertilisers and chemicals, and pursuing value-added exports rather than exporting only raw hydrogen.
Building industrial ecosystems around hydrogen hubs, supported by sustained skills development and effective job creation, will enable Namibia to convert its natural energy advantage into long-term economic growth.
Sustaining momentum
Namibia has the resources to compete globally in green hydrogen but converting that advantage into production will require more than just natural conditions.
Localisation must be prioritised to ensure that Namibians participate meaningfully in the sector. International EPC expertise remains essential, but its greatest contribution must be the knowledge it helps embed locally.
With strategic investment, strengthened training pathways and deliberate supplier development, Namibia can move beyond exporting energy to building the industrial capacity that supports long-term national growth.
* Julien Karambua is the Country Manager at Workforce Staffing Namibia.