Namibia will have a single consolidation draft Bill by January 2023 that will serve as a guide for the governance framework that will direct and address the implementation of the envisage green hydrogen industry, presidential economic adviser, James Mnyupe, has said.

In an interview with Nampa recently at State House, following the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Mnyupe confirmed that although Namibia does not have a law that speaks directly to the implementation of green hydrogen, the country has existing laws in isolation that address some of the activities under the green hydrogen project.

“We are working on the first draft Bill which can be expected in January 2023. Green hydrogen is an emerging industry being formed, which will require consultations, research, collecting of data and learning from around the world in an effort to consolidate existing laws, but we are working on it and 90 per cent of the laws actually exist,” said Mnyupe.

He noted that by having investors already showing interest in the renewable energy sector, some activities can already be implemented with the existing laws, adding that thus far the only law that needs consideration is the synthesising of ammonia plant, which however can be considered as a potential synthetic fuel already guided by the Petroleum Act.

‘Currently, what we are looking at is whether there is anything that is missing. Do we consolidate or do we govern the industry from the different existing acts already? Do we tax them at the same rate or new tax rate considering that there is a mining tax rate, normal company tax rate and individual tax rate?’ he posited.

Speaking at the same conference, President Hage Geingob acknowledged the absence of a direct law that speaks to the implementation of the green hydrogen project and noted that it is time for Namibia to act and deliver on the opportunities offered by the proposed green hydrogen sector, which is the country’s hope for economic recovery and poverty eradication.

Geingob recently led a team to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where Namibia participated in order to market the country as an attractive investment destination and share its ambitions with regards to renewable energy.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency