By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Erastus
A summary of the Socio-economic Development (SED) Framework has proposed to produce excess water and electricity that the towns of Lüderitz and |Aus can take up.
The hydrogen project, which is currently at the feasibility stage, plans to generate 3.5GW of renewable energy – both solar and wind – by 2027.
As part of the Feasibility and Implementation Agreement (FIA), Hyphen and the government have agreed on a SED framework.
The framework will ensure that the benefits and opportunities in pioneering green hydrogen projects are enjoyed by all throughout the country.
In the framework, Hyphen has proposed to government, that it plans to generate more electricity than it needs during the project and supply this excess electricity from the project to Lüderitz and |Aus or, additionally, to oversize the electricity production in excess of Hyphen’s requirements in order to supply excess electricity.
The SED summary has not, however, detailed how much exactly will be generated in excess and the cost involved.
It has, however, stated the exact scale and basis on which electricity could be supplied is to be assessed and agreed to by government during the feasibility phase of the FIA.
Apart from the planned excess electricity generation for the southern communities, Hyphen has also planned to produce more water than they need in order to supply some southern towns.
“Hyphen has proposed to GRN to oversize the desalination plant to be able to supply water to Lüderitz and Aus,” the SED framework reads.
The exact scale and basis on which water could be supplied are to be assessed and agreed to by the government during the feasibility phase of the FIA.
There has also been a question of housing if Hyphen will be contributing to housing for its workers under the project, as the country faces a huge housing backlog.
The SED summary highlighted that during the feasibility phase, Hyphen will determine what accommodation will be needed for its employees and contractors during the construction and operational phase of the project.
However, the SED framework has reiterated that the government broadly, and the local authorities specifically, remains responsible for the long-term planning and development of Lüderitz and |Aus.
The other issue is if the promised employment opportunities will be reserved to a certain extent for the people of the Southern regions. There are vocal voices for Hyphen to prioritise employment and procurement opportunities for the local communities in the ||Kharas and Hardap regions ahead of the rest of the country.
The SED framework has clarified that Hyphen will be guided by government policies, which currently require them to adhere to the principle of ‘One Namibia One Nation’.
The ‘One Nation’ implies that all Namibians regardless of the region of origin will have equal access to employment and procurement opportunities under the project, according to the framework.
Furthermore,theframweworkemphasises the principle of exclusivity and the belief that every Namibian should have a fair chance to participate in and benefit from economic development resulting from the project.
In light of Namibia’s high youth unemployment rate, the Hyphen project plans to address youth empowerment and create job opportunities for young individuals by reserving 20% of jobs for the youths between the ages of 18 and 35.
“We anticipate that the youth will constitute a significant cohort that will benefit from the project by accessing employment, local procurement, and valuable skills development opportunities.”
The hydrogen project is targeting a million tonnes production of green ammonia by 2027 then scale up 2 million tonnes of green ammonia by 2029. Email: erastus@thevillager.com.na
