GREEN HYDROGEN & ENERGY
!Khara-Khoen Chief Calls for Greater Youth Participation in Energy Projects
The call highlights the need for communities in the Hardap Region to secure lasting economic opportunities as Namibia develops its emerging energy industries.
By: Elizabeth Naftal
Chief Gaob Dawid Hanse of the !Kharkhoen Traditional Authority has called on young people and local communities to secure a greater stake in Namibia’s green hydrogen and oil & gas industries, urging them to look beyond construction jobs.
Hanse made these remarks during an engagement between him and the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme`s (NGH2P) Public Relations Officer, Jona Musheko in Mariental, on Monday.
Hanse stressed that local communities should not only participate in building energy projects but also prepare to benefit from their long-term operations through employment, skills development, business opportunities and ownership.
“We must not only build these projects; we must also become their owners, shareholders and employees,” he said.
The chief urged young people to acquire the skills needed to work in the industries once projects become operational, warning against a situation in which communities benefit from construction jobs but are excluded from greater future opportunities within the sector.
He also encouraged young people to rethink their approach to economic development while preserving their cultural heritage, calling on them to identify opportunities that could secure lasting benefits for future generations.
The chief further called on young people to voice their needs and participate in discussions about the rules governing the developments, emphasising the importance of local communities having a say in decisions that affect their future.
Speaking to Business Pulse 360°, Musheko explained that a Youth for Green Hydrogen Scholarship Programme was introduced to prepare young Namibians for the emerging sector, targeting young people from the Hardap and ǁKharas regions.
This programme officially accepted 93 students from the two regions for its third cohort this year, fully funding their technical and vocational training, with a total of N$25 million allocated under a Joint Communiqué of Intent (JCoI) partnership between the German and Namibian governments.
