The chairperson of the Namibia Green Hydrogen Council, Obeth Kandjoze, has dismissed notions among some communities that the country’s green hydrogen energy project, spearheaded by the government, was just a pipe dream.
Speaking at a consultative meeting hosted by the Southern Traditional Community Foundation at Vaalgras in the //Kharas region on Saturday, Kandjoze said the government is determined to realise the multi billion-dollar green hydrogen project.
“This is mere small talk. This project, with such high investment potential to develop our people, can never be a pipe dream,” he said.
“An opportunity of this kind cannot come to an area like this with its hope to turn whatever the greyness into something green, and you don’t grab the chance.
“When you get that chance to even be a bricklayer, moet dit nie los nie (grab it),” Kandjoze said.
Kandjoze called on southern communities to take advantage of the opportunities the project will offer.
Three weeks ago, the Namibian government and Hyphen Hydrogen Energy signed a feasibility and implementation agreement (FIA) on the N$10-billion project.
The Presidency said this would serve as the governing document for the development, implementation and operationalisation of the project in the Tsau-//Khaeb National Park.
According to the agreement, the government assumes responsibility for establishing the required legal, fiscal and regulatory framework to facilitate the successful execution of the project.
On the other hand, Hyphen is entrusted with the technical, financial, environmental, social, and commercial aspects of the project.
“With limited existing international precedent to draw upon, the government and the inter-ministerial Green Hydrogen Council assembled a negotiations team which was supported by international advisers to develop the FIA.
“The government and Hyphen believe the FIA will set a new global benchmark, creating a template for the sustainable and equitable development of other green hydrogen projects,” the Presidency said.
GERMAN SUPPORT
The Namibian last week reported that Germany pledged support for urban planning near proposed green hydrogen production plants at Lüderitz to prepare the town for a strong influx of industrial workers and employees in the service sector.
This was announced in a joint Germany-Namibia statement after negotiations between the two governments on joint development cooperation, which ended last week.
“The federal ministry for economic cooperation and development will provide six million euros (approximately N$121 million) for this purpose.
“Overall, the ministry has committed 51,5 million euros (approximately N$1,03 billion) for projects in sustainable urban development, vocational training, climate change adaptation, as well as the protection of biodiversity and improved water supply,” the statement added.
German development minister, Svenja Schulze, said: “Namibia has huge potential for renewable energies and has recognised that it can write a success story in expanding green hydrogen production. We will support Namibia in this.”
Speaking at the consultative meeting, the chairperson of the Southern Traditional Community Foundation, Dawid Gertze, said the foundation seeks shareholding in the project and not just spin-offs.
“The question of who are the beneficiaries always arises when we talk of development in the south. Now that we are no longer a social responsibility organ, we are not looking to get some spin-offs that come from a development project.
“We want to be part of the project, and we want substantive shareholding in whatever format to make a meaningful contribution to the lives of our people,” said Gertze.
The project is expected to create an estimated 12 000 jobs during the construction phase and 3 000 permanent jobs during its operation.
At full development, the project is expected to produce two million tonnes of green hydrogen annually from five to six gigawatts of renewable generation capacity and a three-gigawatt electrolyser.
The construction phase is anticipated to commence during the first quarter of 2026.
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