COUNTRY FOCUS : NAMIBIA
The 450 MW plant will monetise offshore gas resources while contributing towards energy security and the reduction in electricity imports . With the three new discoveries , Namibia ’ s gas-to-power play has become even more promising .
As the country ’ s energy demands grow , there is a need for a robust downstream infrastructure to support the distribution and supply of petroleum products . Investors can participate in the expansion and modernisation of service stations , storage facilities , and distribution networks , ensuring a reliable and efficient energy supply to meet Namibia ’ s growing needs .
Abundant solar and wind resources coupled with a conducive environment for foreign investment has seen regional and global interest turn to the country ’ s green hydrogen prospects . With the European Union looking at increasing investments in African green hydrogen under the Green Deal Industrial Plan while importing up to 10 million tons of green hydrogen and its derivatives by 2030 , Namibia stands to play a much larger role in global supply chains .
Innovative tech for green hydrogen
Green hydrogen will be one of the largest economic opportunities over the next 30 years . With rapidly improving technology and decreasing costs for fuel cells , green hydrogen is becoming a more appealing fuel alternative in Africa .
At the core of green hydrogen production is the availability of renewable energy that is not being used for its prime role as electricity supply . For Europe , the lack of spare renewable energy capacity will be a roadblock for the hydrogen economy and so the search is on for viable locations for production .
Pilot projects have started in Chile and the Middle East , but the greatest opportunities lie in Africa with many European backed schemes at various stages in the planning process .
In West Africa , an ambitious project to produce 300,000 tonnes of green hydrogen each year is taking shape . The Namibian Government has appointed Hyphen Hydrogen Energy to develop the country ’ s first large-scale , vertically integrated green hydrogen project in the Tsau , Khaeb national park .
The project , worth an estimated $ 9.4 billion , will produce either pure green hydrogen or in derivative form such as green ammonia . The first phase , which is expected to enter production in 2026 , will see the creation of 2 GW of renewable electricity generation capacity to produce green hydrogen for conversion into green ammonia , at an estimated capital cost of $ 4.4 billion .
Once fully developed , the project will provide a major boost to Namibia in terms of foreign direct investment and job creation . The $ 9.4 billion investment amounts to the same order of magnitude of the country ’ s current GDP and will see 15,000 direct jobs created during the fouryear construction of both phases , with a further 3,000 jobs created permanently during the operational phase .
More than 90 % of all these jobs created are expected to be filled by Namibians . In addition to taxes , Hyphen will pay concession fees , royalties , a sovereign wealth fund contribution and an environmental levy to the government .
The Tsau , Khaeb national park is among the top five locations in the world for low-cost hydrogen production , benefiting from a combination of co-located onshore wind and solar resources near the sea and land export routes to market .
Boosting ICT usage
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency has established a computer lab in the Multi-Purpose Youth Resource Centre in Keetmanshoop , Namibia . In Namibia , where youth unemployment is an important problem , the computer lab was established to provide young people with access to computer technologies .
Backed by Africa ’ s extensive renewable energy resources , the International Renewable Energy Agency estimates that renewable energy capacity in Africa could reach 310GW by 2030 . The hope is that development of green hydrogen projects will not only address continent-wide energy demand , increasing energy security and contribute to domestic energy independence , but will provide an environmentally sustainable fuel alternative for years to come .
The big question , however , is whether that hydrogen production will benefit the African energy transition or be shipped back to Europe .
19 computers and a projector were donated to the computer lab . The computer skills training offered to young people as part of the project aims to improve the employability of young people and facilitate their access to information .
Namibia recognises the importance of public-private partnerships for local capacity building in the energy sector . These partnerships focus on knowledge transfer , skills development , and technology transfer , creating opportunities for investors to collaborate with local institutions and contribute to the growth of the Namibian workforce . p
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