Browsing by Author "Shilongo, Indira Lettu"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    A narrative analysis of green hydrogen development in Namibia: A case study of the southern green hydrogen valley
    (University of Namibia, 2025) Shilongo, Indira Lettu; Nghitevelekwa, Romie
    This study explores the narratives and discursive constructions surrounding green hydrogen development in Namibia, with a specific focus on the Southern Hydrogen Valley in the //Kharas Region. Namibia’s ambition to position itself as a global hub for green hydrogen has attracted significant international investment and political attention. However, the socio-political implications of this transition remain underexamined, particularly from the perspective of local communities, regional authorities, and civil society actors. Using a qualitative research design informed by Foucauldian Discourse Analysis (FDA), the study investigates how different stakeholders frame, support, contest, or reinterpret the dominant narratives of green hydrogen, and how these discourses reflect broader dynamics of power, inclusion, and governance. Data were collected from a total of 28 purposively selected participants. Participants included seven activists, eight Lüderitz general residents, two Lüderitz local authority officials, two //Kharas regional council officials, three national government or green hydrogen council officials, four private sector representatives, and two community members. Data collection methods comprised 15 semi-structured interviews and two focus group discussions, alongside participant observation during key stakeholder events such as the Green Hydrogen Masterclass, the launch of the Socio-Economic Development Framework, and the Green Hydrogen Presidential Roadshows. Documentary analysis of media coverage, policy documents, roadshow materials, and strategic frameworks complemented the primary data. Thematic coding was conducted using Atlas.ti version 22 software, while Foucauldian Discourse Analysis guided the interpretive framework to uncover how power relations and institutional ii rationalities shape the production, circulation, and contestation of knowledge in the hydrogen discourse. Findings reveal five dominant narratives - green hydrogen as infrastructure-led industrialisation, a pathway to economic growth, a tool for energy transition, a symbol of Namibia’s global positioning, and a solution for national energy security. The state and private sector actors largely drove these narratives. However, regional and local actors displayed varied responses, ranging from cautious optimism and strategic support to scepticism and contestation. Civil society actors raised concerns around procedural justice, environmental risks, and the potential for elite capture. The study concludes that while green hydrogen is discursively framed as a national opportunity, its governance is shaped by centralised decision-making, technical rationality, and external influence, often marginalising community voices and local epistemologies. A more inclusive and dialogic approach is needed to ensure that Namibia’s energy transition does not replicate extractive development patterns but instead promotes equitable, transparent, and locally embedded outcomes