….  Lüderitz residents share hope and doubts

OWN CORRESPONDENT 

Namibia’s green hydrogen industry is attracting both excitement and concern in Lüderitz, a small southern town set to host some of the country’s biggest projects. 

At the center is the Hyphen Hydrogen Energy initiative, a US$10 billion (around N$160 billion) project planned for the Tsau//Khaeb National Park. Namibia owns 24% of the project, worth €720 million (about N$14.4 billion), backed by €23 million (N$460 million) from the Sustainable Development Goals Namibia One Fund.

The plant, the country’s first integrated green hydrogen facility, aims to produce 350 000 tons of green ammonia annually by 2029 and create thousands of jobs. It could turn the //Kharas Region into a global green energy hub. 

Yet for many locals, high unemployment and economic inequality mean the promised opportunities feel distant. Some are hopeful, while others remain skeptical.

High Hopes, Big Concerns

Even with these promises, residents say local people are not yet included in jobs or training.

“I cannot endorse hydrogen projects because they are a ‘fake’ game in our community,” says Reinhold Nuuyoma, a political party leader. He said that money like Namibia’s €720 million (N$14.4 billion) stake mainly benefits foreign shareholders. Locals, he says, continue to struggle with port bottlenecks and skills gaps.

Nuuyoma adds that hydrogen initiatives have failed to benefit Africa. Instead, they serve the interests of the western world. “As a political party leader, I refuse to sell out my nation and its resources to foreign countries,” he says. 

He also claims that western governments impose laws in Africa under Roman-Dutch legal frameworks that do not benefit Namibians. According to him, these laws drive political agendas for the benefit of hydrogen project shareholders, such as ruling party members.

Local youth want clearer pathways into the industry. 

McAllen Cloete, a member of the youth council at Lüderitz, says, “We hear about the opportunities but many learners don’t know the exact subjects to focus on or what careers exist. They are unsure of the steps after school. It feels like development is happening around us, but pupils are not yet fully prepared or guided.”

Cloete suggests establishing local training centers, improving school career guidance, and forming partnerships with industry. “Companies should offer workshops, mentorship, and job shadowing,” he says. “Otherwise, youth risk exclusion from town-built opportunities,” he said. 

Youth advocate Jisreel !Naruseb also highlights the skills gap. “There are qualified artisans in different trades, but up-skilling is needed to equip young people for the main line of the hydrogen system,” he said.

He adds that, in his personal capacity, he has not applied to the project programs, but as a youth leader, he has engaged those who have. A few young people have attended workshops or training sessions.

!Naruseb points out a lack of local representation among hydrogen ambassadors. Even though two ambassadors are from the //Kharas region, none are from Lüderitz. “That’s sad,” he said. “Selection criteria are decided internally by the organisation. To widen the playing field for Lüderitz youth, project criteria should reflect entry-level opportunities for the majority,” he added. 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH

Despite these concerns, there are concrete initiatives to help Lüderitz youth prepare for the industry. The Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P) is offering Youth for Green Hydrogen (Y4H2) scholarships for young people aged 18–35 from the //Kharas and Hardap regions. These fully funded scholarships cover tuition, registration fees, toolkits, and a monthly stipend. Areas of study include solar and wind energy systems, electrical engineering, welding, plumbing, and other related trades.

So far, about 183 scholarships have been awarded to Namibian youth in vocational and tertiary-level programs aligned with the green hydrogen sector. These initiatives aim to give young people the skills needed to compete for jobs and internships in upcoming projects.

A GLIMMER OF HOPE

Ockert Theron, director of iLogistics at Lüderitz, said the demand for project cargo has grown, mainly at planning and early-work stages. “Large-scale cargo volumes have not yet fully materialised,” he said, “but enquiry levels, feasibility movements, and preparatory logistics activity have grown significantly compared to previous years.”

Challenges remain. 

Theron says port space and specialised equipment are the main bottlenecks. Labour skills are a secondary constraint, and customs processes work but need streamlining for higher volumes. Local content policies exist, but enforcement is inconsistent. Foreign firms handle high-risk segments, while local small medium enterprises (SMEs)  manage support services.

Theron adds that the hardest skills to source locally include heavy-lift planning specialists, project cargo engineers, health and safety professionals with megaproject experience, and advanced port logistics planners. Namibia lacks sector-specific options. Cash-flow pressures also affect SMEs due to long payment cycles, despite careful planning and banking ties. Delays threaten early investors with idle assets, making clear timelines and transitional work vital.

“For Lüderitz to handle full hydrogen logistics in 12 months, priorities include port upgrades, firm schedules, skills acceleration, government-industry coordination, and SME finance support,” Theron said.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE

Lüderitz mayor Brigitte Fredericks says the town council welcomes scrutiny to ensure local benefits. “At present, the green hydrogen programme remains in feasibility and early development,” she said. 

Fredericks said “direct impacts like permanent jobs, SME contracts, or municipal revenue are still limited.”

Early wins include SME engagement in studies, assessments, and short-term environmental jobs. The council pushes Hyphen for local content, skills development, and SME requirements. Fredericks also notes hurdles such as land zoning, housing, and bulk services.

Fredericks said the council is updating spatial plans, partnering on infrastructure, aligning port logistics, and mapping skills with institutions.

“The municipality remains committed to ensuring the green hydrogen transition delivers real, inclusive, lasting benefits for local communities, while working responsibly within the realities of project timelines and development phases,” she said. 

STILL EARLY DAYS

Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme spokesperson Jona Musheko said that construction for Hyphen has not yet begun. “However, when everything proceeds according to plan, Hyphen has local content commitments, particularly in procurement,” he says. He encourages communities across the region to prepare to participate.

Musheko notes that tangible benefits such as jobs and procurement opportunities will only materialise in the //Kharas region once construction follows the feasibility study and the investors’ Final Investment Decision. “We will continue to engage communities through various platforms,” he says. “We encourage residents to keep attending information-sharing sessions in preparation for the project’s potential implementation.”