Nandi-Ndaitwah hails green hydrogen opportunities
Namibia ideal location for new and emerging industries, VP says
The vice president has underlined that Namibia is committed to ensuring that a fair balance is struck between economic development and ecological preservation, as green hydrogen industries beckon.
Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says green hydrogen holds the potential to spur economic development and help address climate change.Nandi-Ndaitwah made theSE remarks during the opening of the Africa Global Hydrogen Summit currently underway.
“The utilisation of abundant renewable energy potential to produce hydrogen, which can be used as a fundamental building block for hard-to-abate sectors, has emerged as a promising means to combat climate change while also offering an important developmental pathway,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
According to her, the concept is worthy of detailed study and research, and Namibia is investing its fair share of intellectual space towards this pursuit.
“According to our recently launched green industrialisation blueprint, these sustainable new industrial complexes may offer compelling opportunities to create new jobs, diversify our economic output and even augment our electricity and clean water production. However, like all industrial complexes of significant scale, careful attention needs to be paid to their potential footprint on our precious flora and fauna,” she said.
Rich opportunities
Namibia is committed to ensuring it strikes a sensible balance between its commitment to economic growth and environmental care, the vice president noted.
“Namibia is committed to ensuring that a fair balance is struck between economic development and ecological preservation," she said.
She added: "It is encouraging for me to witness such a diverse gathering of brilliant minds from around the world that have convened here to help us curate rich conversations on these vital topics.”
According to Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia offers a rich and welcoming environment that is well-suited to host an impactful green industrialisation ecosystem.
“Namibia has rich deposits of the minerals required to build clean industries, such as critical rare earth elements and lithium. We also help our Zambian neighbours trade their copper, a key ingredient for sustainable industries, with global markets,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
“We have some of the best wind and solar resources in the region, close to our well-developed port and rail infrastructure and we have plans to expand that infrastructure to facilitate even broader trade in low carbon goods between our regional neighbours and our global customers,” she added.
The vice president also lauded Namibia’s immigration system, saying it was capable of housing a talented workforce keen to make Namibia their home.
“Lastly, we have the space, a progressive immigration system and a young and developing workforce, which makes Namibia an ideal location to house some of these new and emerging industries. In a nutshell, Namibia is open for business that will make a meaningful impact on our development as it benefits the investor. Therefore, you are all welcome to explore all the possibilities."