Swakopmund: Namibia's green hydrogen sector has successfully attracted over US$2 billion in investments without utilizing public funds, as revealed by Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme communications manager Jona Musheko. Speaking on Wednesday at the Effective Communicators Conference (ECC26) in Swakopmund, Musheko highlighted the role of high-level communication and diplomacy in securing these investments.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Musheko detailed that the initial discussions around green hydrogen began at a presidential level in 2021 and 2022, under the leadership of the late President Hage Geingob. The President engaged directly with international development partners, including the European Union, to promote Namibia's renewable energy prospects. However, a change in political administration in 2024 led to temporary setbacks in communication, causing some international partners to question Namibia's dedication to the programme. This issue was addressed when Namibia re-engaged with four ministers at the Namibia-EU Business Forum.
Musheko emphasized the importance of maintaining communication at both political and public levels, including keeping government bodies and the public informed about the programme. Efforts included conducting media site visits to project locations in the Erongo Region and employing media monitoring tools to track public sentiment. This was initiated to counter early media reports that questioned the project's progress based on distant photographic evidence.
Furthermore, Musheko stated that since 2023, Namibia has trained more than 273 individuals in green hydrogen-related fields at both postgraduate and technical vocational levels. In 2025, Namibia was selected for concessional financing under the Climate Investment Funds' Industry Decarbonisation Programme, competing successfully against 27 other countries to secure US$250 million. The country's first project funding pipeline has been submitted, with feedback anticipated by October and disbursements expected to begin early next year. An additional investment of up to US$4 billion is projected to enter the sector over the coming year.
Musheko acknowledged that the programme initially overestimated job creation figures, clarifying that job opportunities are contingent on the successful execution of projects. Public campaigns, including an NBC documentary series and mobile billboard campaigns, have been launched to communicate the human stories behind the sector's development, underscoring the importance of communication as a foundational investment in development initiatives.
The conference, organized by the Namibia Press Agency and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, continues until 17 July, focusing on the theme 'Communication Reconsidered: A driving force for constant progress.'