TransNamib has temporarily suspended its project to convert two locomotives to dual-fuel hydrogen-diesel locomotives, powered by Namibian green hydrogen.
The move comes after the national rail operator TransNamib’s request for a N$2.6 billion loan to help it modernise its fleet and steer the company to meet its set goals was approved by the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
“TransNamib recently reassessed its development plans to focus on its core objectives, including the procurement of N$2.6 billion in new rolling stock and the goal of more than doubling its annual freight volume over the next five years. This decision enables the organisation to channel its resources and efforts into achieving its critical objectives, which are essential to serving its primary stakeholder—the Namibian nation. The successful execution of these goals is crucial for the company’s growth and service enhancements,” TransNamib and the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme said in a joint statement.
“We believe this strategic realignment will enable TranNamib to better fulfil its mission and support Namibia’s broader environmental goals. By focusing on immediate priorities, the organisation can drive meaningful progress and set the stage for future advancements in sustainable rail transport.”
TransNamib and the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme,however, said they expect to have an GH2-powered locomotive on track in April next year.
“The NGH2P is looking forward to working closely with TransNamib and other key partners to accelerate the deployment of a dual fuel locomotive in the near future, an initiative that will integrate hydrogen power into Namibia’s rail infrastructure,” the two organisations said.
“Both the NGH2P and TransNamib will continue to collaborate closely, alongside other stakeholders. The collaborative effort is crucial for ensuring the successful deployment of hydrogen technologies, reducing emissions, and enhancing Namibia’s transportation infrastructure.”
TransNamib is expected to undertake a thorough preparatory phase before considering locomotive conversions to ensure a well-rounded approach to decarbonising its rail operations.
“As part of this strategic realignment, TransNamib remains committed to Namibia’s Green Hydrogen Strategy and the preparation of its operations for the future hydrogen economy. The NGH2P is looking forward to working closely with TransNamib and other key partners to accelerate the deployment of a dual-fuel locomotive in the near future, an initiative that will integrate hydrogen power into Namibia’s rail infrastructure.”
This comes as a consortium comprising of Hyphen Technical, CMB.TECH, TransNamib, the University of Namibia, and Traxtion was successfully awarded funding towards the consortium’s proposed €7.6 million hydrogen locomotive project, dubbed HyRail Namibia, that aims to develop Africa’s first dual-fuel hydrogen-diesel locomotive.
The project was expected to take 18 months to complete by 2025 and comprised the conversion of two locomotives to use hydrogen in internal combustion engines and a hydrogen fuel storage car to store fuel for the locomotives.
The prototypes were to be built and adapted at the Traxtion Rail Hub in Rosslyn, South Africa, and then moved to Walvis Bay for operation by TransNamib.
