Lüderitz to build worker settlement to accommodate 15 000 workers

The Lüderitz Town Council is planning on building a settlement to accommodate the anticipated influx of workers to the area.

Council spokesperson Elwin !Gaoseb recently told The Namibian that the council is cognisant of the housing needs of the 15 000 workers needed for the green hydrogen sector.

The council has embarked on a townland expansion project, where they are seeking an additional 290 000ha to be added to the current boundary of 11 290ha.

This will provide accommodation for the green hydrogen workforce, planned for areas Note 2 and Note 5, roughly 25 and 50 kilometres east of Lüderitz, respectively.

“Council has identified land within these localities that it will allocate to Hyphen (Hydrogen Energy).

The council’s developmental goals are to become Namibia’s premier industrial and logistics hub and the expansion fits within our vision,” said !Gaoseb.

“The notes in reference will further house other industrial developments such as the steel beneficiation project, and the Kudu Gas Power Project.”

The council will establish these new townships using a polycentric model, where the smart city concept will be rolled out through an integrated urban planning process.

This is to ensure joint prosperity complimented by enhanced amenities for both existing and incoming workers.

“We see challenges as opportunities for growth.

To this end, the council is engaged in the deployment of various baseline studies to ascertain growth pains, while investigating mitigating measures to remedy possible obstacles,” !Gaoseb said.

The town council hosts community meetings and stakeholder information sharing sessions where the community is kept abreast of the council’s developmental agenda and plans.

!Gaoseb said the council encourages and welcomes community members’ inputs and proposals during these engagements, which are factored into the planning.

The town council publicises all its engagements in the spirit of transparency, access to information and public scrutiny, while remaining in compliance with the statutory legislative provisions that govern operations.

The council also submits progress reports to their line ministry as per their operating protocol to account for their actions, and then report back to the community.

Hyphen community relations officer Richie Mutendere told The Namibian that all of these developments are “still in the planning phase”.