By: Informanate

A high-level European Union (EU) delegation, led by Commissioner for International Partnerships H.E. Jozef Síkela and accompanied by Barry Andrews, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Development, visited several EU-supported projects focused on sustainable development in Namibia, with a specific emphasis on education and job creation.

Jozef Síkela stated that estimates indicate the green hydrogen industry in Namibia might create up to 130,000 quality jobs. “The potential is truly significant and with Global Gateway we can turn it into concrete progress and opportunities—jobs, businesses, better services," he said.

Barry Andrews said the investments the EU is making through the Global Gateway initiative have the potential to create thousands of quality jobs for Namibian youth. “Our support for green hydrogen is an important part of this effort, as it is also for our investment in a modern and climate-proof Namibian economy," Andrews added.

The delegation inaugurated the Cleanergy Solutions Namibia project, a European-led green hydrogen project, together with the President of Namibia. This project will power trucks, port equipment, railway applications, and small ships, with plans to expand to include an ammonia jetty and storage facility for export to South Africa and the EU. The project is a partnership between Belgian company CMB.TECH and Namibia's Ohlthaver & List Group.

At Namport, the delegation discussed how EU support to partnerships between Walvis Bay–Port of Antwerp and Bruges, and Lüderitz–Port of Rotterdam and Port of Sines can transform Namibian ports into regional logistics hubs.

The visit to the TIDRET project (Towards an Inclusive Design of the Renewables Energy Transition) demonstrated how sustainable energy solutions can advance gender inclusion and social equity. The €4.7 million project has brought solar energy to 182 households, representing approximately 728 people, with 70 percent being women-headed households.

The field visit concluded at the recently inaugurated HyIron production facility, Africa’s first climate-neutral green iron production facility, which has supported over 60 SMEs and 400 skilled labourers. The project received German funding of €13.7 million for its first phase, with an additional €12.9 million from the EU and the Netherlands for a second phase.