By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Hangala
A skills gaps analysis of three Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Projects that advanced to post-pilot has indicated that the current level of supply of specialised artisans will not meet demand, should they progress to second phases as planned.
Phase 2 of the three Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Projects will require 29,700 construction and installation workers (Specialist Artisans (NQF 3-5 Level)).
However, the gap analysis shows that national Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) have, on average, around 1,363 graduates in green hydrogen-relevant programs per year at NQF Level 3-4.
These figures exclude the Hyphen Projects.
This was revealed by the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P) during a presentation at the DryHy Research Project Workshop this week in Windhoek.
The gap analysis shows that by 2030, the three projects will require 4,300 NQF Level 6 and 8 Specialist Technicians and Engineers.
However, the analysis has indicated that currently only two Private Vocational Training providers train technicians in three GH2-aligned programs, producing about 40 graduates in a 3-year cycle.
This is while two of the universities (UNAM and NUST) had, on average, 186 NQF 7 and 8 graduates in Manufacturing, Engineering, and Technology fields (MET) per year.
In terms of health and safety experts (NQF 4-5) with managers at level NQF 7, the three projects will require around 1,100 personnel.
While on the supply side, on average, 46 TVET graduates in general workplace health and safety (mostly NQF 4) are produced.
Logistics and transportation are also key to the GH2 and derivatives. The analysis shows that 900 truck drivers and crane operators (NQF Level 3-4) will be required.
However, in the past 5 years, only 4 persons qualified as heavy equipment operators (no data on truck drivers).
The sector has also indicated that it will require around 3,400 logistics experts (NQF 5-6), but there is no current statistics on how many the country produces per year.
Moreover, it will also require 2,000 environmental experts (NQF Level 4-5).
The estimated employment opportunities to be created by 2030 are based on the three projects as they advance to post-pilot, should they progress to second phases as planned.
One of the three projects is Clearnegy, which aims to decarbonise shipping/other heavy transport.
Cleanergy’s construction of phase 2 started last year and is expected to produce 50,000 tpa of green ammonia, with full production of 220,000 tpa expected in 2028.
HyIron is for the production of direct reduced iron briquettes for export; the construction of phase 2 began last year and is expected to produce 50,000 tpa of reduced direct iron.
Furthermore, the final investment decision of the third phase of HyIron is expected this year, with 2 million tpa of green ammonia to be produced by 2028 if the investment is given the green light.
The third project is the Daures Green Hydrogen Villages, which has two phases in its pilot project that intends to produce green hydrogen using wind and solar power.
The project has an ambitious aim of producing 18 tonnes of green hydrogen and 100 tonnes of green ammonia by the end of 2026 or the first quarter of 2027.
The three projects and others are based on the Namibian government’s green industrialisation strategy.
These are projects to supply some of the near-term demand for ammonia for alternative fuels, fertiliser production, reduced iron production, and base load grid electricity to local, European, and Asian markets.
To initiate the industry, the Namibian government and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) signed a Joint Communique of Intent (JCoI) on the 25th of August 2021.
It aims to promote cooperation in the fields of green hydrogen and its associated derivatives, renewable electricity and associated infrastructure development, resulting in funding for pilot projects and capacity building.
erastus@thevillager.com.na
