Namibia’s green hydrogen sector aims to create 30 000 jobs by 2030, with six key strategies needed to scale projects, develop skills, and attract investment.
A senior official at the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P) says for the sector to unlock the anticipated 30 000 jobs by 2030 as highlighted by Namibia’s sixth National Development Plan, the country would have to set in motion six strategies.
NGH2P spokesperson Jona Musheko revealed this to The Namibian yesterday on the margins of the two-day Youth Climate Change Conference, which also ended yesterday at Ondangwa in the Oshana region.
He said about six green hydrogen projects are currently ready for production and scaling to the next phases.
Musheko said some of the projects are Cleanergy Solutions Namibia, the Hyiron Oshivela project, Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, Hophydro and Zhero.
However, for these projects to be fully operational, Namibia would need to develop policy legislative frameworks, establish green hydrogen economic zones, build local manufacturing capacity, develop a common user infrastructure for the green hydrogen sector, and to prioritise skills development and research and innovation.
Musheko said the sector currently employs about 800 people across different projects.
Since the current government has promised to create 500 000 jobs by 2030, Namibia should produce approximately 330 jobs per day to achieve this target, he said.
Musheko said the programme has thus far sent 183 students to different universities, both locally and internationally, and some of these students have already completed their studies.
“There are many opportunities in the green hydrogen sector,” he said.
Aina-Maria Iteta, a senior official from the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF), at the event urged the youth to tackle a number of environmental challenges Namibia is currently faced with.
She said these environmental challenges include a loss of biodiversity, desertification, climate change and waste management.
Iteta said the EIF’s mandate is to mobilise financial resources for investment in natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management, and climate change resilience.
“The youth should ask themselves what they can do to contribute to addressing these challenges. They need to find solutions,” she said.
She said the EIF offers the youth climate facility funding.
“Please, opportunities are there and sometimes the youth are missing out on these opportunities,” Iteta said.
She encouraged young people to apply for funding to come up with projects aimed at environmental protection.
A number of local authorities are currently struggling with waste management, Iteta said, and the youth should, therefore, apply for funding to come up with waste management projects.
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