Cabinet approves new Green Industries Council

Cabinet has approved the establishment of a new Green Industries Council, replacing the former Green Hydrogen Council.

The announcement was made last week by Information Minister Emma Theofelus, who communicated resolutions taken during the 12th and 13th Cabinet meetings held on 28 April and 6 May 2026.

According to Jona Musheko, spokesperson for the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P), Cabinet intends for the Green Industries Council to oversee and guide Namibia’s broader green industrialisation agenda.

He said the council will focus on policy coordination, institutional alignment and investment priorities aimed at accelerating industrialisation, economic diversification and job creation.

Cabinet indicated that the new council will be chaired by the director general of the National Planning Commission and will include representatives from key government institutions. These include the ministries of finance; industries, mines and energy; agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform; environment, forestry and tourism; international relations and trade; and urban and rural development, as well as the Office of the Attorney General and the Bank of Namibia.

The development comes as Namibia prepares to host the African Green Industries Summit 2026 in Swakopmund from 9 to 10 September.

Earlier this month, NEA Consulting announced the launch of the summit, which succeeds last year’s Global African Hydrogen Summit. The 2025 event attracted more than 1 500 delegates from 75 countries to Namibia to discuss ways to “fuel Africa’s Green Industrial Revolution”.

This year’s summit theme is: “Powering African Industries for Sustainable Development.”

Speaking at the launch, Deputy Minister of Mines and energy Gaudentia Kröhne said the summit would play an important role in advancing Namibia’s industrialisation agenda and supporting Africa’s transition towards a sustainable green economy.

The 2026 summit will broaden its focus beyond hydrogen to include renewable energy, infrastructure and sustainable manufacturing.

Acting chief executive of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), Jessica Hauuanga, reaffirmed Namibia’s ambition to position itself as a leading green industrial hub on the African continent.

Collaboration

According to Hauuanga, collaboration with organisations such as NEA Consulting is essential in creating platforms that attract investment, promote local enterprise participation and drive inclusive economic growth.

Meanwhile, Joseph Mukendwa, interim head of programme at NGH2P, described the upcoming summit as an evolution beyond the hydrogen sector.

He said Namibia’s national objective is to use renewable energy and green hydrogen as enablers of industrialisation, value addition, infrastructure development and long-term economic transformation.

Mukendwa added that 78 projects and developers have already been shortlisted under Namibia’s Sectoral Transformation Investment Plan. The projects span clean energy, enabling infrastructure, industrial decarbonisation, the circular economy and the bio-economy.

The African Green Industries Summit 2026 is expected to bring together policymakers, investors, industry leaders and development partners from across Africa and beyond for high-level dialogue, investment discussions and partnership development.

According to NEA Consulting, the programme will include leadership round tables, project pitching sessions, technical seminars, business matchmaking opportunities and site visits aimed at translating policy into tangible industrial development outcomes.