The Arandis Town Council launched its five-year strategic plan last Friday, positioning the town as a hub for green hydrogen production, industrial growth, and sustainable development.
The 2024 to 2029 plan outlines a clear roadmap for transforming Arandis into a key player in Namibia’s economic landscape, with green hydrogen taking centre stage.
At the core of the plan is the council’s commitment to renewable energy, industrialisation and job creation.
Arandis aims to leverage its strategic location and available land assets to attract investment and boost economic activity.
Hosting Cleanergy Solutions Namibia’s hydrogen production plant and a 1-gigawatt solar energy plant, the town is poised to play a pivotal role in Namibia’s green energy future.
Deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele highlighted the significance of the green hydrogen initiative at the launch, calling it “a reality that demands action to address climate change”.
She said the project will create local and regional jobs and make a significant contribution to Namibia’s gross domestic product.
“We are at the forefront of this transformation,” she said.
The council’s new plan builds on the previous strategic period of 2019 to 2024, in which it achieved 81% of its objectives, including the construction of 136 houses and the establishment of the Natis licensing authority.
Infrastructure development will continue to be a priority, with plans to service more land and maintain key infrastructure.
“We are using our land as a critical factor of production,” Arandis chief executive Stanley Norris said at the launch.
He said by doing so, the town hopes to attract industries, increase municipal revenue and create new jobs.
“This blueprint is designed to guide Arandis towards sustainable growth,” he said.
Norris also announced a joint venture with CMB Tech and Ohlthaver & List to establish the second phase of the Cleanergy Refueling Station, with planning already in progress.
The first phase of the project was inaugurated in May 2024 by President Nangolo Mbumba and King Philippe of Belgium near Walvis Bay. The second phase will be located on Arandis town lands.
Arandis mayor Risto Kapendah said the town, long shaped by mining, now seeks to diversify its economy.
“We are creating an investor-friendly environment. This will uplift our community and stimulate the national economy,” he said.
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