• By Koviao Matuzee
Amidst the worldwide transition to clean energy, Namibia is taking calculated steps to secure a leading role in the global shift towards green energy and it is now looking to China for collaboration and on-the-ground knowledge.
This week, a high-level delegation from the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme touched down in Beijing and Shanghai, marking a substantial step in the country’s aspiration to convert itself from an energy importer into a renewable energy powerhouse.
The visit, supported by the Global Wind Energy Council, is more than symbolic. It is a practical, action-driven approach aimed at accelerating Namibia’s green industrialization agenda.
The trip hinges on a critical question of how Namibia can maximize its natural resources, sun, wind and open land for eco-friendly economic expansion.
Renowned for its swift progress in sustainable energy, China offers an instructive, high-quality model. From wind turbines and solar systems to battery storage and fuel cells, the country has built an ecosystem that Namibia is enthusiastic to learn from.
For the Namibian delegation, the aim goes beyond insight, to reshaping and understanding how these resources can be integrated in the local economy.
One of the notable moment of the visit is Namibia’s engagement with global wind turbine manufactures. This links directly into ongoing projects such as the planned wind farm near Lüderitz, where international collaboration is already beginning to take shape.
The idea is clear: Connect global proficiency with local opportunity.
The trip is beyond just infrastructure, this journey is focused on human potential and future opportunities. By engrossing with innovation hubs and leading energy companies, Namibia hopes to unlock new pathways for job creation, skills development, and longterm energy security.
According to Joseph Mukendwa, The interim head at the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme, the lessons drawn from China’s experience could help Namibia built not just power plants, but entire production chains extending production, storage and distribution.
Namibia has set its sights on increasing the share of renewable energy in its energy mix from 54 percent to 70 percent by the year 2040. Achieving this demands long-term partnerships, investment, and technological exchange.
According to experts, on many levels, the journey to China reflects how Namibia is actively shaping its own destiny of the global energy transition by stepping into it, seeking knowledge, forging alliances, and shaping its own future, not just watching it unfold.
It is believed that should it succeed, the result of this partnership could extend well beyond energy. Furthermore, it is said this could redefine Namibia’s economic landscape, positioning it not just as a participant in the green energy revolution, but as a leader on the African continent.
