• NUST warns of shortage of 130,000 skilled workers in Namibia’s green hydrogen sector.

• Ignite GH2 project with Germany to train youth, women and upgrade curricula.

• Skills push seen as key to national hydrogen strategy and long-term export goals.

Namibia risks a severe shortage of skilled labor in its emerging green hydrogen industry, with a gap that could reach 130,000 workers by 2040, according to the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). The warning was issued by NUST Vice-Chancellor Erold Naomab on September 19 during the launch of the Ignite GH2 project, a joint initiative with Germany to build local expertise.

As Namibia seeks to establish itself as an African hub for green hydrogen, the shortage of qualified workers threatens to slow industrial and energy ambitions. Ignite GH2 aims to narrow this gap through technical and vocational training. The project will revise curricula to fit sector needs, upgrade trainers’ skills, and create pathways between vocational and higher education.

In the first phase, more than 700 unemployed youth will undergo practical training over the next two years, mainly through the Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT). The program emphasizes inclusion of women and young people to ensure the sector’s growth benefits wider society.

These efforts align with the national green hydrogen strategy, which aims to make Namibia a major global exporter. The country’s potential lies in abundant solar and wind resources, highlighted by the World Bank and the International Energy Agency (IEA).

This advantage has already attracted large-scale projects, including Hyphen Hydrogen Energy’s Tsau/Khaeb initiative, targeting 7 GW of renewable capacity and 350,000 tons of green hydrogen output annually. For NUST, building skills must be a long-term priority to sustain such projects.

Beyond energy goals, the skills challenge is also a pressing social issue. Youth unemployment exceeds 40%, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency. The Ignite GH2 initiative underscores that preparing human capital is now seen as critical to implementing the country’s hydrogen strategy.