Dutch green hydrogen skills

Namibian enthusiasts and participants in the budding of the brand new industry, undertook a Green Hydrogen Skills Study Tour to the Netherlands last week. The Namibian delegation, composed of senior representatives from the education, research, and energy sectors undertook a four-day skills exchange study tour to the Netherlands, aimed at accelerating the country’s green hydrogen ambitions through knowledge-sharing and institutional collaboration.

The study tour, coordinated by the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P) in partnership with the Netherlands Embassy and Consulate in South Africa, as well as the Dutch government, follows the release of a 2024 report commissioned by the Netherlands on Namibia’s green hydrogen skills landscape.

The report recommended targeted engagements to support capacity building for a just and inclusive energy transition. The Namibian delegation includes participants from the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts & Culture (MEIYSAC), the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P), the Namibia Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) and the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE). Also represented on the tour was the University of Namibia (UNAM), the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), the Namibia Green Hydrogen Research Institute and local vocational training centres coordinated by the Namibia Training Authority.

The Namibians were welcomed by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the opening of a week full of shared insights and fresh ideas.

Dr Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus, Namibia's Ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands and the European Union said: “Together, we are laying the groundwork for skills development that benefits youth communities, and the energy workforce of the future.”

The tour began with engagements at YES!Delft, one of Europe’s leading tech incubators, and TU Delft’s Green Village, where delegates explored how Dutch institutions integrate research, industry, and local governments to advance green hydrogen innovation. In Rotterdam, the delegation toured the Port of Rotterdam and the RDM innovation hub, to understand the infrastructure and workforce planning behind Europe’s largest hydrogen development initiatives.

A key highlight was the Human Capital Agenda dialogue led by the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, which focused on human capital development and entrepreneurship.

The tour is expected to inform a national strategy for green hydrogen education and training, including curriculum development, research partnerships, private sector linkages, and infrastructure requirements. It was further aimed at establishing long-term collaboration frameworks between Namibian and Dutch institutions.

As Namibia positions itself as a global player in clean energy, this exchange marks a vital step in ensuring local institutions are equipped to deliver the skills, innovation, and research needed to support the country’s green industrialization goals, according to Jona Musheko, spokesperson for NGH2P.

“The educational tour was not only a platform for knowledge exchange, but also an opportunity to witness fully developed green hydrogen technologies and how they are being applied across various industries. The participating institutions play a critical role in shaping and advising on the skills needed to support Namibia’s emerging green hydrogen sector,” Musheko added.