Namibia, 8 September 2025 – Hyphen Hydrogen Energy (Hyphen) officially launched its Green Hydrogen Skills Census today at its head office in Windhoek.
The Skills Census is a flagship component of Hyphen’s baseline studies and its National Skills Audit, conducted as part of its commitments under the Feasibility and Implementation Agreement (FIA) with the Government of the Republic of Namibia (GRN).
The Census is designed to capture existing skills across the country and match them to the critical skills required to drive Hyphen’s project needs during its construction and operations phases, respectively.
Hyphen is conducting the Skills Census in close collaboration with key national stakeholders, including Namibia’s TVET sector, human capital development institutions, regional authorities, and socio-economic development agencies.
The Census platform allows all Namibians to register their skills and upload relevant supporting documentation, contributing to another initiative by Hyphen, namely the creation of a comprehensive national job seekers database for the GH2 sector.
Looking ahead, the Skills Census will inform the design of Hyphen’s workforce development strategy, tailored to the unique needs of its project and, later, to the broader emerging green hydrogen sector in Namibia.
The data collected will help shape targeted training programmes and guide institutional partnerships that align education supply with industry demand, ensuring that Namibian talent is actively positioned to benefit from the coming industrial expansion.
This approach is being carried out in close collaboration with the government, under Hyphen’s FIA, and reflects a shared commitment to inclusive and sustainable national development.
Hyphen’s Green Hydrogen project in the //Kharas Region is expected to create approximately 15,000 jobs during construction and 3,000 permanent roles during operations.
Hyphen therefore calls on all Namibians, especially the youth, who represent over 70% of the national population, to register on the Skills Census platform, participate actively, and share the initiative widely across their networks.
We also urge Government partners at national, regional, and local levels to support and champion the initiative, so that as many Namibians as possible participate meaningfully in this once-in-a-generation opportunity.
This people-centred, data-driven initiative ensures that Namibians are not bystanders, but rather the rightful architects of their future in the country’s green energy transition.
The Hon. Dino Ballotti Deputy Minister, MEIYSAC stated in his keynote address, “Hyphen is investing in real, tangible efforts to ensure that as many Namibians as possible are meaningfully included and empowered to participate in the green hydrogen opportunity. Recognizing that this will be an evolving journey requiring partnership, patience, and persistence.
One such effort is what brings us together today. Namibia’s emerging green hydrogen ecosystem requires a wide and interconnected set of skills. From artisans and technicians, to engineers, welders, logistics professionals, data analysts, Health and Safety officers, project managers, and many others. Entire new career pathways will be born from this opportunity.”
Deon Shekuza, representing Namibia’s youth and co-founder of the Namibian Youth on Renewable Energy (NAYoRE), spoke at the launch. He stated during his remarks, “Namibia’s youth are the cornerstone of our green hydrogen workforce.
Through the Voluntary Contribution Skills Census, we’re empowering young people to showcase their talents.”
With the official launch of the skills census, Hyphen is establishing a comprehensive workforce competency planning framework that pinpoints essential skills and informs tailored training programmes.
At the event, Martin Wilkinson of Hyphen, said, “These programmes will empower and employ Namibians, building local capacity. As Hyphen and Namibia embark on this ambitious, innovative, and groundbreaking green hydrogen initiative, a diverse and well-trained workforce is critical to its construction, operation, and ultimate success.”
