Green Hydrogen project developed in secrecy claim refuted

The Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, refuted claims that the Green Hydrogen project is being developed in secrecy.

He says the government will continue to engage and share information related to the project so that everyone remains up-to-date with its developments. 

“With regard to the concern that the green hydrogen project is being developed or discussed in secrecy, the people who are actually saying that I don’t know if they live in Namibia, if there is any project government involved and widely discussed, it is green hydrogen. There has been so much public engagement in green hydrogen and regional engagement as well. Because of the importance of this project and what it means to our economy, I understand that we need to have this continued discussion to make the people understand what it’s all about and not claim that it’s being developed in secrecy. I would want to say that’s not the case, and we continue to engage the public on it.”

However, he was quick to add that the government cannot reveal the commercial agreements of the green hydrogen investors to the public.

“What I see people saying is that people want to know what the commercial details of the investment are, but you would understand that no one is going to invest in your country if everyone knows my investment details while I have people competing with me. Now here I am signing an agreement with you, and you clearly tell the people that this is what I agree to. How does that make us look like a country where there is no commercial agreement and every agreement is known by everybody? If that is what people are talking about, then the government’s position is to say there are certain commercial agreements that have to be between the people who signed the agreement, but I agree that what the project means to society and the country is something that we need to share with the public.”