Turning Energy into Jobs, Firms and Industry

THE FIRST QUESTION most Namibians will ask about oil, gas, hydrogen and renewables is not technical. It is personal: Will this create work, build businesses, lower costs, improve services, strengthen communities, or give my children better opportunities?

These are the right questions.

This article argues that natural gas should be seen as part of Namibia’s bigger prize. ‘Local content’ must be about more than getting Namibian names into petroleum contracts. It must become a strategy for value addition: building skills, firms, shared infrastructure and investment opportunities that can serve oil, gas, green hydrogen, renewable energy, mining, ports and wider industry together.

Oil can bring large revenues early, but much of its activity happens offshore and much of its value can be exported quickly.

Gas is different. Gas can support power generation, industry, fertilisers, fuels, mining, manufacturing and regional trade.

Hydrogen and renewables add another layer, because they also need land, ports, water, electricity, engineering, logistics, safety systems and skilled people.