Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme Head of Impact and ESG Eline van der Linden said the efforts are part of the ongoing development of the green hydrogen sector with each job representing a new opportunity in the emerging field
At present the pilot projects and projects on private land in the Central Valley are employing over 200 people with approximately N$170 million contracted to SME companies for various parts of the build up of these green hydrogen projects It is early days with each job in this emerging sector a truly new and additional job she said in a report
She highlighted that the green hydrogen sector can move Namibia into a higher economic growth trajectory bringing several Namibians jobs and business opportunities
Economic modelling by McKinsey and Company Harvard University provides an estimate of 250000 jobs by 2040 This includes 180000 direct jobs in the green hydrogen industry and 70000 direct indirect and induced jobs from green manufacturing she said
She said these jobs will train up a new generation of highly skilled workers that will benefit not just the hydrogen industry but will be a catalyst for further industrialisation across the country in many other sectors
In addition jobs and business opportunities will be created through infrastructure upgrades eg port and rail the expansion of Lüderitz town to provide housing healthcare education security and recreation services etc to those taking up jobs in the green hydrogen sector and other emerging economic sectors such as oil and gas and commercial mariculture and generally the services sector financial hospitalityMICE research media and publicity etc she explained
This comes as the green hydrogen sector provides considerable employment opportunities for individuals and Namibian businesses across the country
Many economic services are required such as construction technical services maintenance and repair transport hospitality and financial services Buildings wind and solar farms pipelines port facilities etc will need to be constructed and subsequently maintained she said
Meanwhile environmental and social impact assessments ESIAs technical design studies and other specialist work will need to be undertaken in support of the various projects
Hyphen Hydrogen Energy a joint venture between Nicholas Holdings Limited and ENERTRAG was appointed by the government as the preferred bidder to develop the countrys first large scale export green hydrogen H2 project in two concession areas in the Tsau Khaeb National Park
Hyphen will be requiring some 15000 workers during the construction phase and a further 3000 permanent employees for its gigawatt green hydrogen and green ammonia production facility in the SCDI
This large scale project further targets 30 local procurement of goods services and materials during the construction and operational phases
