Namibia advances green energy goals through new hydrogen facility and financing calls

Namibia is advancing its green energy and industrialization goals through new infrastructure and calls for specialized financing. At the Second International Conference on Finance and Sustainable Business in Windhoek, Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse called for innovative green financing to support the country’s 2030 development targets. These targets include achieving a 7 percent economic growth rate, increasing manufacturing’s contribution to GDP to 18 percent, and expanding electricity access to 70 percent.

Amutse emphasized that financing must reach rural households and informal businesses, stating, “A just transition cannot end where creditworthiness ends.” He also advocated for domestic processing of critical minerals to move beyond being a raw material supplier.

In a practical application of these ambitions, a new integrated green hydrogen facility has been commissioned in Walvis Bay. Described by Siemens as Africa’s first fully integrated green hydrogen facility, the CMB. TECH project combines solar generation, hydrogen production, and battery storage in an off-grid operation. The facility uses a 5MWp solar park to power a 5MW electrolyser, providing hydrogen for industrial and transport uses, such as dual-fuel trucks and generators, without relying on the national grid.