STAFF WRITER
Director General of the National Planning Commission Kaire Mbuende says all investments trickling into the country should be driven in a manner that does not compromise the environment.
Speaking at the ongoing Africa Green Industries Summit in Swakopmund on Wednesday Mbuende said while Namibia welcomes increased investment interest through its green transition and vast mineral industry , ‘the country will not be forced to choose between investment and the environment.
He said country is pushing for tangible investments that have the ability to change the lives of Namibans white sustaining the environment and creating wealth for local businesses.
“Green industrialisation can help us achieve these targets. NDP6 identifies green hydrogen as a source of sustainable growth and employment, with targets including 1.3 million tonnes of green ammonia per year, 2 million tonnes of direct-reduced iron, 143 Gigawatt-hour (GWh) of green baseload electricity, 30,000 green hydrogen-related jobs, and 30 percent local content and participation by 2030.7. These are not simply production targets,” Mbuende said.
He said Projects such as HyIron Oshivela demonstrate the potential to use renewable energy and green hydrogen for low-carbon iron production, while the Daures Green Hydrogen Village shows how green hydrogen can support agriculture, fertiliser production, skills development and rural enterprise.
“Our development ambition goes hand in hand with environmental responsibility. Concerns about the environmental impact of large-scale industrial development, particularly in sensitive areas, must be taken seriously. Namibia should not be forced to choose between development and conservation. That is a false choice,” Mbuende said.
The Africa Green industry summit is running under the theme, “Powering African Industries for Sustainable Development”.
Mbuende said Namibia is driven by ensuring responsible development.
“This is why Strategic Environmental and Social Assessments are being undertaken in Namibia’s green hydrogen valleys. These assessments consider cumulative environmental and social impacts, identify sensitive areas and help determine where development should proceed, where mitigation is required and where development should be avoided. Sustainable development must be both economically credible and environmentally responsible,” he said.
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