The National Green Hydrogen Roadshow continued its tour across the country in the week of June 17. The team will be visiting Kunene, Oshikoto, and Ohangwena regions throughout the week. The roadshows, organized by the Government of the Republic of Namibia (GRN) and Hyphen Hydrogen Energy (Hyphen) have been crisscrossing the country to engage with stakeholders and communities, sharing information on the Hyphen project and the Socio-economic Development (SED) Framework.
The roadshow meetings are being led by Obeth Mbui Kandjoze, Director General of the National Planning Commission and Chairperson of the Green Hydrogen Council, and two of his team members. Together with Hyphen’s Team, the roadshow will give an overview of the project, and offer stakeholders in the towns and regions an opportunity to ask questions. These sessions will give the people in the regions a real understanding of the opportunities the Hyphen project is bringing to Namibia.
As has happened with previous stops on the National roadshow, GRN and Hyphen will engage with local and regional leaders. There will also be meetings with OMA’s, businesses, civil society, and the youth. The importance of these roadshows to engage the stakeholders cannot be underestimated. The presence of the Director General and the regional governors at these events emphasizes the importance. The first session on June 18 in Outjo, was well attended.
The SED Framework, designed to ensure the project’s benefits are shared with the local community, will provide opportunities for local businesses, create jobs, and support local infrastructure development. Hyphen and GRN are keen to understand more about what concerns and questions the stakeholders have by having an open and transparent conversation about the project, its timelines, and its goals.
The Hyphen project is the first step in implementing GRN’s strategy to establish a large-scale Green Hydrogen industry in Namibia to support its economic growth. The total investment of US$10 billion – roughly the equivalent of Namibia’s annual GDP, will help transform Namibia. The project is estimated to create up to 15,000 new jobs during the construction phase and 3,000 permanent jobs during its operation, with a target for around 90% of these jobs to be filled by Namibians. Hyphen targets 30% local procurement for goods, services, and materials throughout the construction and operational phases.