Local Government and Community Inclusivity and Readiness for Green Hydrogen Development in Namakwa

The report examines the proposed green hydrogen development in Boegoebaai, Northern Cape, focusing on the readiness of the Namakwa District Municipality (DM) and Richtersveld Local Municipality (LM). It finds that both municipalities lack the financial and technical capacity to support the anticipated population influx and infrastructure needs. The study highlights a 'top-down' planning approach by national and provincial governments that excludes local authorities and communities, leading to mistrust and procedural injustices. It concludes that without significant intergovernmental support and genuine public participation, the transition risks being unjust and disruptive to rural livelihoods.

• The Boegoebaai region possesses a comparative advantage for green hydrogen production due to its Atlantic Ocean coastline for desalination and high solar radiation, with peak sun hours between 2,600 and 3,000 per year.
• Local municipalities are largely excluded from the planning of the Boegoebaai Green Hydrogen Development Zone, with the provincial government leading assessments and the municipalities merely being informed of developments.
• The Richtersveld LM lacks the fiscal capacity to fund necessary infrastructure for the project, relying on national government grants for approximately 72 per cent of its capital budget in the 2020/2021 financial year.
• There is a significant gap in local skills; in Richtersveld LM, only 23.3 per cent of the population over 20 has a matric qualification and only 6 per cent have post-secondary qualifications, suggesting a reliance on outside skilled labor.
• Public participation processes for the green hydrogen project are perceived as 'tick-box' exercises, characterized by a top-down approach where communities are informed rather than consulted as partners.
• Community activists report a lack of transparency regarding land acquisition from the Richtersveld Communal Property Association (CPA), alleging political interference and the co-opting of ANC supporters to endorse the project.
• The project is expected to cause a massive population spike, with projections of 75,000 people entering the Richtersveld region by 2035, which would overwhelm the existing infrastructure of a municipality with only 12,000 residents.
• Previous renewable energy projects under the REIPPP in the Northern Cape created 'boom and bust' cycles, leading to temporary employment during construction and subsequent economic instability and infrastructure strain.

APA

Nzo, T., & Mahabir, J. (2021). Local Government and Community Inclusivity and Readiness for Green Hydrogen Development in Namakwa. Public Affairs Research Institute. https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Green_Hydrogen-v3.pdf

Chicago

Nzo, Thina, and Jugal Mahabir. Local Government and Community Inclusivity and Readiness for Green Hydrogen Development in Namakwa. Public Affairs Research Institute, 2021. https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Green_Hydrogen-v3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Nzo |first1=Thina |last2=Mahabir |first2=Jugal |title=Local Government and Community Inclusivity and Readiness for Green Hydrogen Development in Namakwa |publisher=Public Affairs Research Institute |date=April 2021 |url=https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Green_Hydrogen-v3.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{nzo2021local, author = {Nzo, Thina and Mahabir, Jugal}, title = {{Local Government and Community Inclusivity and Readiness for Green Hydrogen Development in Namakwa}}, institution = {Public Affairs Research Institute}, year = {2021}, month = apr, url = {https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Green_Hydrogen-v3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }