Namibia has been pursuing developments in green hydrogen energy, capitalizing on the country's natural conditions to bring prosperity to its people and build a more sustainable world, said Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba.
Speaking in an interview with China Media Group (CMG), Mbumba said the country's prospects for hydrogen energy have gained worldwide recognition, all built on a vision proposed by the country's former leader, Hage Geingob, who passed away in February this year. "Our late president (Hage Geingob) used to say that three or four years ago, we never even knew the word 'hydrogen,' but he picked it up. He got in touch with people who have the knowledge and understanding of it, he studied it and he marketed it to all of us. Namibia was identified not only by us, [but also] by experts throughout the world that we have a unique possibility to develop it," he said.
According to the Namibian president, not only will Namibia's hydrogen exports bring greener energy solutions to countries around the world, but the program itself will be built up using non-fossil fuel energy sources.
"We have the desert, I have described it already. We have the harbor. We have the wind. We have one of the driest places in the world. The sun is [shining] almost 365 days a year. And we identified a number of companies to be our partners. The big program is to produce the green hydrogen using solar power and wind power. Having enough space to develop it, developing the harbor in Luderitz, as well as in Walvis Bay to make sure that big ships will come, collect the green ammonia, green hydrogen, take it to Europe, use it for their industries, whether it's from trains to ships, to motor cars, to buses, to everything. That's what the big idea is, and we are very, very serious. We are training our young people to win bachelor's, and master's degrees, and PhD in that direction. And so far, we have been successful," he said.
Namibia has unique possibility to develop hydrogen energy: president
Malaysia's durian-themed restaurants are booming as record numbers of durian lovers are flocking to the country, eager to sample what many consider the world's best varieties of the pungent fruit.
Often described as a fruit people either love or hate, durian has long been a favorite among many Chinese visitors as well.
New outlets have sprung up across Kuala Lumpur and Penang, branding themselves as restaurants but serving little beyond durian in different forms, from fresh fruit to ice cream, cream puffs, milkshakes and even deep-fried versions.
"We opened this place nearly a year ago, and our customers come from all over the world," said Ophelia Ng, branch director of Laifa in Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia.
Visitors said the draw was the wide range of durian varieties on offer.
"My friend is from Singapore, and this friend is from Indonesia. So we are here to try out different varieties of durian. I think there is different flavors, [some are] a little bit bitter, some are sweeter or creamier, yes, so that's why we are trying it out first before we order the big one," said Wen Ni, a Malaysian durian lover.
Some tourists, however, found the taste less appealing.
"I'm not sure if I like it. I don't really like it. It's not really good," said a tourist from Austria.
For Chinese tourists, sampling Malaysia’s finest durian remains an essential experience.
"When you come to Malaysia, you can't afford to miss the best durian. The finest varieties are Musang King and Black Thorn. It's best to enjoy them in a restaurant, where you can eat comfortably in a cool, air-conditioned setting. The durian is delicious, and relaxing here while savoring the fruit is the best experience," said Zhao Bin, a tourist from Guangzhou, capital city of south China's Guangdong Province.
With durians banned from hotels and public transport, restaurants offering air-conditioned comfort have become the preferred way for tourists to enjoy Malaysia's most divisive fruit.
Malaysia's durian restaurants thrive amid booming demand
