Africa-Press – Namibia. GERMANY will provide Namibia with further support in urban planning in the vicinity of the planned green hydrogen production plants in Lüderitz.
This was announced by the German Embassy, which also disclosed that Germany will assist in training specialists urgently needed in the renewable energy sector. The embassy said that the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) will allocate €6 million (equivalent to approximately N$121 million) for these purposes.
The German Embassy explained that the green hydrogen production initiative in Lüderitz will create numerous job opportunities but will also present significant challenges for the town. Therefore, it has been agreed that Lüderitz will receive support for climate-neutral and participatory urban planning to address these challenges and prevent uncontrolled urban sprawl.
“Private investors are also to be brought on board in order to speed up the construction of new apartments, schools, water pipes, sanitary facilities, roads and public places. The German- Namibian development cooperation also pays particular attention to the expansion of vocational training in order to meet the growing need for skilled workers, for example in the production of green energy, and to offer young people reliable prospects,” the embassy explained.
The embassy confirmed that Namibia and Germany reached an agreement on this matter during the government negotiations on joint development cooperation, which concluded last week.
“Overall, the BMZ has committed 51.5 Million Euros, (approximately 104 Billion NAD) for projects in sustainable urban development, vocational training, climate change adaptation, as well as the protection of biodiversity and improved water supply,” the embassy added.
Svenja Schulze, Germany’s Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, said that Germany will support Namibia’s efforts to expand green hydrogen production successfully. She emphasized that Namibia possesses significant potential for renewable energies.
“Sustainable urban planning in the vicinity of the future facilities is an important part of our cooperation. Above all, sustainable means involving the local population in the planning. They have to be able to have a say, because it’s about shaping their country. Ultimately, our cooperation with Namibia benefits threefold: climate, local development through new jobs and Germany, which gains a powerful partner for its energy transition,” Schulze added.
The German Embassy also highlighted that future German-Namibia cooperation will focus on women and girls, including providing vocational training opportunities for women in the labour market and prioritizing their access to drinking water or protection against domestic and sexual violence.
“As an inclusive city, Lüderitz should offer quality of life for all population groups and become a pioneer in climate-neutral urban development,” the embassy said.
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