Namibia explores socioeconomic potential of green hydrogen
The Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P) hosted a panel discussion to assess the socioeconomic benefits of green hydrogen under the theme, "An Economic Outlook: Assessing the Socio-Economic Benefits of Namibia's Green Hydrogen Industry".Held in partnership with the Bank of Namibia and the Namibia Statistics Agency, the event highlighted the potential of green hydrogen (GH2) to drive sustainable growth and social advancement in Namibia.
Delivering the keynote, Hon. Obeth Kandjoze, director general of the National Planning Commission, emphasised the alignment of green hydrogen initiatives with Namibia's socioeconomic goals. “This strategy contributes to global decarbonisation while fostering resilience at home,” he said, adding that a detailed Ex-ante Socioeconomic Impact Assessment revealed green hydrogen's ability to spur economic growth, reduce poverty, and address inequality.
The panel included Green Hydrogen Commissioner James Mnyupe; head of technical and construction at NGH2P Dr Theopolina Kapani; and acting director of the Namibia Green Hydrogen Research Institute Dr Zivayi Chiguvare.
Discussions centred on infrastructure development, equal distribution of benefits, and advanced economic modelling tools like the Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) Model and Household Microsimulation (HM) Model, which forecast green hydrogen’s broader impacts on Namibia.
Kapani highlighted the importance of shared infrastructure, such as pipelines and desalination plants, to attract investment and minimize environmental impact.
Meanwhile, the head of impact at the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme Dr Eline van der Linden, stressed the gradual trickle-down benefits for under-resourced communities, with increased fiscal income enabling broader economic inclusion.
Findings from the Namibia Green Industrialisation Agenda revealed the potential to create 120 000 jobs during the investment phase and sustain 30 000 annually during operations. The initiative could add N$129 billion to GDP during the investment phase and N$177 billion annually thereafter, while household incomes could grow by N$99.4 billion and N$87.9 billion during these phases, respectively.
The session reinforced Namibia's commitment to a transparent and inclusive green hydrogen strategy, promising long-term benefits for citizens and the economy.