Mon | October 13th, 2025 | 19:00 (CEST)
Green Hydrogen from Namibia – A New Chapter of German Colonial History?
Speakers Tour, organized by Attac, with activists from Namibia in Cologne, in cooperation with the Gesellschaft für Erdkunde zu Köln e.V. and the Global South Studies Center (GSSC)
Namibia was a German colony from 1885 to 1915. However, demands for reparations from Germany continue to meet resistance; a reconciliation agreement negotiated in 2021 has still not been signed. Instead, both governments are promoting economic cooperation to use Namibia’s resources for the German economy and energy transition. Is colonialism continuing in a new form? It’s not quite that simple. Under Germany’s current coalition government, hydrogen production in Namibia was supposed to become a pilot project for fairer cooperation “on equal footing.” Conditions were negotiated with the SWAPO government and Namibian actors, with promises to meet social and environmental standards.
Yet criticism from Namibian NGOs of the planning and implementation has been strong: lack of transparency, insufficient participation, failure to meet environmental requirements, inadequate oversight. The indigenous Nama complain that their interests are not being taken into account.
Attac Germany, in cooperation with the Gesellschaft für Erdkunde zu Köln e.V. and the Global South Studies Center (GSSC), has organized a Speakers Tour for two representatives of civil society to amplify these protests.
Speakers:
- Dr. Linus Kalvelage (Associated Researcher Project C01 “Future in Chains”)
- Nafi Hamukoshi (Economic and Social Justice Trust Namibia)
- Paul Thomas (Spokesperson, Nama Traditional Leaders Association)
More information on the Speakers Tour:
https://www.attac.de/kampagnen/rohstoffenergiehunger-stoppen/namibia
Event in English with German translations.
Venue
Allerweltshaus Köln e.V.
Geisselstraße 3-5, 50823 Köln
