Namibia has launched its Green Hydrogen Strategy to accelerate the recovery of the domestic economy and contribute towards its Vision 2030 industrialisation agenda, among others.
Some of the key objectives in the strategy are to establish an effective operational structure, develop strong and embed network of partners, and create shared prosperity for Namibians.
The activities required to achieve the objectives as set out in the strategy include:
- Establishing an appropriate and fit-for-purpose structure to help develop the green hydrogen industry. The envisaged structure will also be responsible for planning, procuring, and monitoring future green hydrogen projects developed on state-owned land.
- Crafting and enacting the Synthetic Fuels Act as a comprehensive regulatory framework to create an enabling environment. This legislation will ensure compatibility with international green fuel, certification, health and safety, and environmental standards.
- Launching pilot projects to build knowledge, local EPC companies and capabilities to construct and deliver local component manufacturing.
- Planning and developing an ownership and governance model and shared ecosystem for Common User Infrastructure to lower development costs and risks.
- Putting in place training programmes and policies to enable Namibian citizens to participate in the hydrogen economy and supply talent to the industry.
The activities required to achieve the objective of developing and embedding a strong network of partners include:
- Working with international development partners to mobilise finance and de-risk available financial instruments.
- Engaging with regional partners to explore and agree on collaboration opportunities to foster cross-border green ecosystems for example, shared use of port infrastructure, and pipelines.
- Continuing the global outreach campaign and fostering hydrogen diplomacy to inform potential investors, project developers and international development partners about Namibia’s hydrogen opportunity and identify collaboration opportunities with other governments and the private sector.
The activities required to achieve the objective of creating shared prosperity for Namibians include:
- Updating and developing the Harambee Prosperity Plan II to lay out a clear path for economic development and invest the government proceeds from the hydrogen industry in healthcare, education and other social benefit.
- Hosting roundtables to engage key Namibian stakeholders on an inclusive basis (civil society, labour unions, traditional communities) in building Namibia’s hydrogen economy and incorporate their feedback in plan development.
- Creating a permanent task force to assess and manage the environmental safeguards and more specifically the biodiversity concerns in the hydrogen industry under the framework of the Community-Based Natural Resource Management Programme.
