Hyphen Hydrogen Energy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Hardap Regional Council to address the skills gap and prepare local talent for opportunities in the green hydrogen industry.
The partnership, part of Hyphen’s broader collaboration with the Namibian government, aims to roll out specialized training and capacity-building initiatives. Initially targeting the Hardap Region, the program will later expand to the //ǁKaras// Region, fostering local expertise to meet industry labor demands.
Head of Environment and Social Governance at Hyphen, Toni Beukes, underscored the importance of equipping local talent for the emerging industry.
“This MoU lays the foundation for our collaboration with a strong emphasis on technical training at the TVET level. Our goal is to ensure that local talent is well-equipped to seize the opportunities emerging from implementing the Hyphen project,” Beukes said.
Executive Director of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Penda Ithindi, emphasized the socio-economic benefits of Hyphen’s investment portfolio, including local enterprise development, skill enhancement, and job creation.
“These benefits are optimized through the value chain approach, from the production activities of wind and solar energy generation, water desalination, green ammonia production, and electrolysis value-addition to further downstream value addition and value chain activities on the back of large-scale associated infrastructure and logistics base,” Ithindi said.
Governor of Hardap, Solomon April, described the MoU signing as a significant milestone, highlighting its role in preparing the region’s youth for the green hydrogen economy.
“The historic event of signing an MoU between Hardap Regional Council and Hyphen is a milestone. It marks the beginning of preparing the otherwise demoralized youth of the region to receive education in the form of skills development to allow them to confidently participate in the new fledgling economies in the South,” April said.
Namibia is currently home to active green hydrogen projects, positioning the country at the forefront of the green hydrogen industry.
The green hydrogen sector is poised to create substantial employment, with Hyphen Hydrogen Energy alone expected to require 15,000 workers during construction and 3,000 permanent employees.
Economic modelling suggests the sector could generate 250,000 jobs by 2040, significantly boosting Namibia’s economic growth. Local procurement is a priority, with a target to source 30% of goods and services locally.
