STAFF WRITER
Senior Traditional Councillor of the Dâure-Daman Traditional Authority, Herman !Naruseb says the green hydrogen industry should be developed in a way that includes all Namibians and delivers real economic gains.
Speaking at the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) industrial decarbonisation programme stakeholder workshop in Walvis Bay last week, !Naruseb said communities must not be left out of major projects.
He said green hydrogen projects must bring real benefits to local communities, not just companies and institutions.
“Our community believes development must bring fair and inclusive benefits. Our people must take part in these projects,” he said.
He called for skills development, training, fair participation, public awareness, and inclusive agreements to ensure communities benefit.
He said this would help create real community development, unlike other industries where locals feel excluded from benefits.
!Naruseb said past experiences, especially in mining, have left many Namibians without real economic gains.
He said investors must prioritise training and capacity building for local communities.
“This will ensure Namibians are not just watching, but are part of these projects in their own land,” he said.
He added that green hydrogen is a technical sector, but with training and support, local people can also benefit in the long term.
“Green hydrogen needs skills. But with training, our people can benefit now and in the future,” he said.
!Naruseb also said he is encouraged that some communities already hold shares in green hydrogen projects and have working relationships with companies involved.
However, he raised concern about how information is shared with communities.
“There is a need for better public awareness. Much of the information is on social media, but not everyone can access it,” he said.
He called for more use of radio and community meetings to share information.
“We need radio and community engagement so people understand green hydrogen and its impact,” he said.
“Our goal is simple: our people must be informed, included, and empowered in shaping their future.”
The same views were echoed by Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) regional manager for Erongo, Patrick Tongo, who said Namibians should embrace green hydrogen for jobs, small business opportunities, and improved infrastructure.
“We must remember green hydrogen helps fight climate change. Knowledge starts with information, then becomes understanding and wisdom,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Willie de Klerk, Principal at Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology Building and Civil Trades in Arandis, said Namibia could benefit greatly from shared infrastructure if the industry grows.
He said the idea of common-use infrastructure is promising, but raised concern about waste management during construction.
“There are risks with waste. Materials like crates and plastics are brought to project sites and must be managed properly,” he said.
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