…set to join proposed African Sustainable Industrialisation Institute
TIRI MASAWI
Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme Head, James Mnyupe is set to leave the institution and join the proposed African Sustainable Industrialisation Institute (ASII).
Mnyupe has been the project leader for the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGHP) since 2023 but there are allegations that he is struggling to get political support under President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s presidency.
The green hydrogen programme, a flagship created under former President Hage Geingob’s term, is now facing political uncertainty.
“At the Global African Hydrogen Summit that took place this month, Mnyupe announced that he will be leading the African Sustainable Industrialisation Institute,” Green Hydrogen Programme spokesperson Jona Musheko told Namibia Business Review last week.
Musheko denied that the decision was influenced by politics.
Mnyupe and the team are now seeking Cabinet endorsement for the African Sustainable Industrialisation Institute.
The African Sustainable Industrialisation Institute is being touted as a New Centre of Excellence for Africa, headquartered in Namibia.
The new move, according to the proponents enables the country to mobilise over N$4 billion (US$250 million) in concessional financing.
But for all this to work, the proposal needs government buy in. Its political direction is, however, not straightforward.
Secretary to the Cabinet Emilia Mkusa last week said the proposal is yet to reach her desk.
“It hasn’t reached Cabinet level. Normally, proposals like this would have to come from the line minister. Please contact the line ministry for clarity,” she said.
The Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Natangue Ithete last week said the proposed African Sustainable Industrialisation Institute is not hosted under the government.
Ithete said during the Green Hydrogen Summit, reference was made to the proposed establishment of the African Sustainable Industrialisation Institute.
He said this mention has reportedly raised concerns and uncertainty among several funding partners regarding the governance of the proposed institution and the position of the government.
“While the government welcomes the establishment of such an institute as a private initiative, it is not part of, nor connected to the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme. The Green Hydrogen Programme remains a government-led strategic priority and a cornerstone of Namibia’s vision to harness renewable resources for industrial development,” he said.
Ithete said the government of Namibia remains unwavering in its commitment to green industrialisation, as outlined in the National Development Plan Six (NDP6).
According to the Green Industrialisation Blueprint, fully developing Namibia’s synthetic fuel strategy could create up to 250 000 jobs. This includes about 185 000 direct jobs from green hydrogen activities, like building wind and solar farms, operating pipelines, and assembling electrolysers, and around 70 000 jobs related to concrete manufacturing, basic metals production, and outsourced business services.
Cirrus director Rowland Brown has raised skepticism over the green hydrogen ability to create many sustainable jobs.
Brown told Namibia Business Review on Saturday that green hydrogen, which is in its experimental stages, does not have many off-takers internationally and might not create the much needed sustainable jobs.
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