STAFF WRITER
The N$11 million partnership between GIZ and Hyphen Hydrogen to train local entrepreneurs for Namibia’s emerging green hydrogen industry has been welcomed as a key step towards unlocking local business opportunities.
National Planning Commission executive director Iben Nashandi lauded the initiative, saying it will capacitate Namibian entrepreneurs to render efficient services in the country’s evolving green hydrogen sector.
He was speaking at the signing ceremony of a cooperation agreement between GIZ and on Hyphen Hydrogen Energy Monday.
“Green hydrogen is a cross-cutting sector that intersects with energy, water, infrastructure, industrial development, and skills formation. Its success therefore depends on deliberate, coordinated planning and execution. Under NDP6, green hydrogen is positioned as a strategic driver of economic transformation. Our objective is not only to produce for export, but to develop domestic industrial capacity, create jobs, and expand Namibia’s economic base,” he said.
Nashandi said the cooperation will bring together about N$11 million to train local entrepreneurs on key aspects of procurement in the industry. The move is expected to prepare local companies to compete effectively in providing services to the sector.
The Hyphen Hydrogen ammonia project in Namibia is estimated at US$10 billion (about N$170 billion), with around N$54 billion earmarked for local procurement.
Nashandi said the Hyphen project is a flagship initiative within national development plans, providing a platform to anchor a new industrial ecosystem and advance priorities such as local content, skills development and enterprise participation.
He said a critical element of this approach is ensuring meaningful participation by Namibians, including empowering local enterprises to access opportunities across the green hydrogen value chain.
“The enterprise and supplier development programme supported through International Hydrogen Ramp-up Programme (H2Uppp) is therefore a vital intervention. It is designed to strengthen the capacity of Namibian enterprises to meet industry standards and participate competitively in large-scale projects,” he said.
He added that the partnership between GIZ and Hyphen demonstrates the importance of aligning international cooperation with Namibia’s development priorities.
“Ultimately, the success of Namibia’s green hydrogen sector will be measured by its contribution to inclusive economic growth, sustainable industrial development, and improved livelihoods for our people,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, Hyphen Hydrogen chief executive officer Marco Rafinetti said the company is focused on empowering local entities through local content support.
He said local procurement and capacity building are central to the multi-billion-dollar project, which aims to produce green ammonia at scale.
“We are working towards creating a strategic partnership that will go a long way in promoting local businesses. We are grateful for stakeholders, including the government and GIZ, for this partnership going forward,” he said.
GIZ Namibia country director Tobias Gerster said the German government is committed to partnering with Namibia on a just energy transition driven by the green hydrogen industry.
He said Germany’s cooperation with Namibia spans multiple sectors and has been ongoing for decades.
Gerster added that the agreement with Hyphen Hydrogen will help empower local businesses to benefit from opportunities in the green hydrogen industry.
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