Loading svg Please wait while we translate the article
Joseph Mukendwa. PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED
Joseph Mukendwa. PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

Mukendwa champions green energy for a bright future

Green energy a ‘transformative force’
As the head of policy and planning at the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme, Joseph Mukendwa says the sector offers countless opportunities for the youth.
Phillipus Josef
Euclides Joseph Mumbone Mukendwa, a native of Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi Region, has made it his mission to shape Namibia’s green energy landscape.

Now 43, Mukendwa serves as the head of policy, planning and strategy at the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme, where he plays a key role in developing the strategic framework for the country's green industrialisation.

With 19 years of professional experience – 17 of those in management and 12 in senior roles – Mukendwa said: “I embraced this role without hesitation. I am passionate about human capital development and creating opportunities for Namibians.”

Before joining the programme, Mukendwa honed his expertise in institutional client services at Allan Gray Namibia, managing client portfolios.

Prior to this, he held the position of regional director at the Allan Gray Orbis Foundations, overseeing youth education and entrepreneurship initiatives in Namibia, Botswana and Eswatini.

His career began at the Namibia Training Authority, where he developed and implemented the National Training Fund and Training Levy.

A green revolution underway

In his current role, Mukendwa oversees skills development and local content integration within the green hydrogen sector, which he describes as “revolutionary” for Namibia’s economy.

“Hydrogen energy is complex, but I tell family and friends it’s a fuel produced from renewable energy, and it creates opportunities for Namibia. That usually does the trick,” he explained.

Mukendwa’s day-to-day work involves steering a rapidly evolving industry, staying current on sector developments, and engaging stakeholders ranging from policymakers to the public. "Every day is an opportunity to learn,” he said.

Overcoming misconceptions

While Mukendwa is enthusiastic about the industry’s potential, he acknowledges the challenges in fostering public understanding.

“A key challenge is getting buy-in from stakeholders. We are implementing a comprehensive communication strategy to tackle misconceptions and educate communities and leaders," he explained.

Yet, for Mukendwa, the challenge is worth it.

“We are not just talking about an energy source. We’re talking about a transformative force for our country’s future.”

Mukendwa encourages young professionals eyeing a career in hydrogen to stay curious, pursue relevant training, and keep informed on industry trends.

"There are countless opportunities in this new field, and not just in hydrogen," he advised. As he leads Namibia toward a greener future, Mukendwa’s vision remains clear: “My role allows me to contribute to something far greater than myself – a resilient, sustainable Namibia."

Kommentar

Allgemeine Zeitung 2024-11-08

Zu diesem Artikel wurden keine Kommentare hinterlassen

Bitte melden Sie sich an, um einen Kommentar zu hinterlassen

Katima Mulilo: 24° | 36° Rundu: 19° | 33° Eenhana: 21° | 28° Oshakati: 21° | 27° Ruacana: 21° | 32° Tsumeb: 19° | 23° Otjiwarongo: 18° | 28° Omaruru: 19° | 31° Windhoek: 18° | 28° Gobabis: 19° | 30° Henties Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 21km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 13:56, High tide: 07:46, Low Tide: 02:00, High tide: 20:14 Swakopmund: 15° | 16° Wind speed: 24km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 13:54, High tide: 07:44, Low Tide: 02:00, High tide: 20:12 Walvis Bay: 15° | 22° Wind speed: 27km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 13:54, High tide: 07:43, Low Tide: 02:00, High tide: 20:11 Rehoboth: 18° | 30° Mariental: 21° | 33° Keetmanshoop: 20° | 35° Aranos: 20° | 33° Lüderitz: 14° | 23° Ariamsvlei: 21° | 36° Oranjemund: 14° | 20° Luanda: 25° | 26° Gaborone: 18° | 27° Lubumbashi: 17° | 33° Mbabane: 14° | 32° Maseru: 14° | 23° Antananarivo: 15° | 31° Lilongwe: 20° | 29° Maputo: 19° | 34° Windhoek: 18° | 28° Cape Town: 16° | 22° Durban: 18° | 27° Johannesburg: 17° | 26° Dar es Salaam: 25° | 31° Lusaka: 19° | 34° Harare: 17° | 32° Currency: GBP to NAD 22.61 | EUR to NAD 18.82 | CNY to NAD 2.44 | USD to NAD 17.48 | DZD to NAD 0.13 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.25 | EGP to NAD 0.35 | KES to NAD 0.13 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.63 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.07 | RUB to NAD 0.18 | INR to NAD 0.21 | USD to DZD 132.9 | USD to AOA 909.05 | USD to BWP 13.4 | USD to EGP 49.25 | USD to KES 129.2 | USD to NGN 1680.41 | USD to ZAR 17.48 | USD to ZMW 27.15 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index Same 0 | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1878.29 Up +1.09% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 14487.67 Up +1.33% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 31267.47 Up +0.72% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 687.22/OZ DOWN -0.0073 | Copper US$ 4.32/lb DOWN -0.0211 | Zinc US$ 3 006.80/T DOWN -1.81% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 74.84/BBP DOWN -0.0143 | Platinum US$ 982.58/OZ DOWN -0.0146 Sport results: Weather: Katima Mulilo: 24° | 36° Rundu: 19° | 33° Eenhana: 21° | 28° Oshakati: 21° | 27° Ruacana: 21° | 32° Tsumeb: 19° | 23° Otjiwarongo: 18° | 28° Omaruru: 19° | 31° Windhoek: 18° | 28° Gobabis: 19° | 30° Henties Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 21km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 13:56, High tide: 07:46, Low Tide: 02:00, High tide: 20:14 Swakopmund: 15° | 16° Wind speed: 24km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 13:54, High tide: 07:44, Low Tide: 02:00, High tide: 20:12 Walvis Bay: 15° | 22° Wind speed: 27km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 13:54, High tide: 07:43, Low Tide: 02:00, High tide: 20:11 Rehoboth: 18° | 30° Mariental: 21° | 33° Keetmanshoop: 20° | 35° Aranos: 20° | 33° Lüderitz: 14° | 23° Ariamsvlei: 21° | 36° Oranjemund: 14° | 20° Luanda: 25° | 26° Gaborone: 18° | 27° Lubumbashi: 17° | 33° Mbabane: 14° | 32° Maseru: 14° | 23° Antananarivo: 15° | 31° Lilongwe: 20° | 29° Maputo: 19° | 34° Windhoek: 18° | 28° Cape Town: 16° | 22° Durban: 18° | 27° Johannesburg: 17° | 26° Dar es Salaam: 25° | 31° Lusaka: 19° | 34° Harare: 17° | 32° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 22.61 | EUR to NAD 18.82 | CNY to NAD 2.44 | USD to NAD 17.48 | DZD to NAD 0.13 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.25 | EGP to NAD 0.35 | KES to NAD 0.13 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.63 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.07 | RUB to NAD 0.18 | INR to NAD 0.21 | USD to DZD 132.9 | USD to AOA 909.05 | USD to BWP 13.4 | USD to EGP 49.25 | USD to KES 129.2 | USD to NGN 1680.41 | USD to ZAR 17.48 | USD to ZMW 27.15 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index Same 0 | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1878.29 Up +1.09% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 14487.67 Up +1.33% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 31267.47 Up +0.72% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 687.22/OZ DOWN -0.0073 | Copper US$ 4.32/lb DOWN -0.0211 | Zinc US$ 3 006.80/T DOWN -1.81% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 74.84/BBP DOWN -0.0143 | Platinum US$ 982.58/OZ DOWN -0.0146