In a notable pivot from prior environmental activism, the Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA) has thrown its weight behind Hyphen Hydrogen Energy’s (Hyphen) Green Hydrogen project, signalling support for sustainable development amid a landmark skills partnership with the Hardap Regional Council. The NTLA, which previously protested port expansion in Luderitz to preserve the historic Shark Island, was represented by NTLA’s Vice-Chairperson Gaob David Hanse and members of various other traditional authorities native to southern Namibia at the February 25 signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at upskilling local youth for emerging green industries.
The agreement, witnessed by government officials including Hardap Governor, Solomon April and Ministry of Mines and Energy Executive Director, Penda Ithindi, highlighted Hyphen’s commitment to addressing critical skills gaps in Namibia’s Green Hydrogen (GH2) sector. The collaboration prioritizes technical training, vocational programs, and youth empowerment to prepare communities for roles in Hyphen’s estimated N$180 billion (US$10 billion) renewable energy venture, set to transform southern Namibia’s economic landscape.
The NTLA’s participation marks a strategic alignment with Hyphen’s social inclusion goals, contrasting its earlier opposition to port development. While the group’s protests centered around safeguarding Shark Island - a site linked to colonial-era atrocities - their presence at the MoU ceremony signals cautious optimism for projects balancing ecological preservation and job creation.
“This MoU lays the foundation for collaboration, with a strong emphasis on equipping local talent to seize opportunities from the Hyphen project,” said Toni Beukes, Hyphen’s Head of Environment and Social Governance. Initial training efforts will focus on Hardap before expanding to the //Karas region, with a Working Group established to drive innovative skills initiatives.
Hardap Governor Solomon April hailed the partnership as “long overdue,” emphasizing its potential to reverse youth disillusionment through vocational education. “This inspires our youth to dream again and participate in the south’s fledgling economies,” he stated.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy, represented by Ithindi, reaffirmed support for Hyphen’s Socio-Economic Development (SED) Framework, which targets local job creation, enterprise growth, and infrastructure development. The project’s value chains - spanning renewable energy generation, water desalination, and green ammonia production - are projected to deliver wide-ranging macroeconomic benefits.
While the MoU does not directly address the NTLA’s prior port expansion concerns, its focus on community-centric growth reflects Hyphen’s efforts to align with Namibia’s national equity goals. The NTLA’s engagement suggests a tentative bridge between heritage conservation and green industrialization, though stakeholders stress the need for ongoing dialogue.
Hyphen’s next step includes finalizing a similar agreement with the //Karas Regional Council, further embedding local inclusion into Africa’s largest green hydrogen initiative. As Namibia positions itself as a GH2 leader, the Hardap partnership sets a precedent for reconciling economic ambition with grassroots empowerment.