President Hage Geingob says the residents of the //Kharas region cannot remain poor after the establishment of the green hydrogen industry, as was the case with diamond mining in that region.
Geingob said this at a stakeholders’ meeting on Friday at Lüderitz in the //Kharas region to update the region’s leadership and the community on the green hydrogen and ammonia developmental project under the economic advancement pillar of the second Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPPII).
Several meetings were attended by representatives from local authorities, regional councils, traditional authorities, the youth, entrepreneurs and community members.
“This is an important project and we must be inclusive – especially the people of this region. There’s diamonds here, these people are poor. We can’t have green hydrogen and people are still poor.
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“The Harambee Prosperity Plan is not a one-man show, one must have a plan which is inclusive. Therefore I am asking you, from Mariental,Koës, Bethanie, Lüderitz – know you are included and let’s harambee around this green hydrogen project and build the industry together,” Geingob said.
The green hydrogen and ammonia developmental project under the economic advancement pillar of the HPPII is envisaged to be located within the Tsau-//Khaeb National Park in the //Kharas region.
The project will assist the country in gaining foreign investment, securing its own energy source, and transitioning Namibia to renewable energy – thereby decarbonising its economy.
The proposed US$9,4 billion project will consist of five to seven gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar renewable energy facilities, as well as support infrastructure comprising a desalination plant, an electrolyser, pipelines, power lines, battery storage, access roads, ammonia synthesis and expand port facilities at Lüderitz and Walvis Bay.
The project is expected to produce around 15 000 direct jobs throughout its development.
During operation, it would employ approxmately 3 000 people, and Namibians are to occupy more than 90% of these positions.
Geingob said the building of a sustainable hydrogen industry is an opportunity for the country to address poverty, unemployment, the lack of housing and building small and medium enterprises to jump-start Namibia’s economic recovery and growth.
“I would not like us to lose out on a great opportunity and throw away a good idea. Therefore, we must be inclusive, because inclusiveness spells harmony and exclusiveness spells conflict.
“If we have a project like this and I exclude you, you will fight me and sabotage me, because you don’t know what is going on. But if we can meet like this, you ask questions, I bring you experts to answer you, you are going to make it a success,” the president said.
The awarding of 93 scholarships to upskill locals for the industry has, however, been met with distrust.
“When these scholarships were advertised there were some conditions put there, I didn’t put them, it was one by experts. But I didn’t see people from this region on that list.
“Maybe when we advertise again, we should advertise only within those regions,” Geingob said.