Namibia’s green hydrogen sector attracted N$2.08 billion in investment since inception, supporting a growing number of projects that form part of the country’s green industrialisation drive.
According to Green Hydrogen Commissioner and Head of the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P), James Mnyupe, the sector has created over 800 jobs and channelled close to N$170 million into local small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
“Skills development remains a priority,” said Mnyupe, who confirmed that 183 scholarships have been awarded to young Namibians to support capacity building.
“Of these, 90 are at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) level, and 93 at tertiary level. An additional EUR 1.3 million has been allocated to capacity-building efforts in the Hardap and //Kharas regions, linked to upcoming projects such as Hyphen Hydrogen Energy,” he said.
Namibia’s rollout is currently driven by five major green hydrogen projects. Among these is the HyIron Oshivela Project, which began production in March 2025. The facility aims to produce 15,000 tonnes of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) annually, scaling up to 2 million tonnes per year by 2028.
Cleanergy Solutions plans to begin small-scale green ammonia production of 200 tonnes per year in 2025, expanding to 220,000 tonnes by 2028.
NGH2P reports that HDF Energy is developing a green baseload electricity facility, expected to generate 142 gigawatt-hours (GWh) annually from 2028.
Meanwhile, Zhero/Envision is targeting first green ammonia production of 500,000 tonnes per year in 2029, scaling to 2 million tonnes by 2030.
The largest of the current initiatives, Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, plans to start producing 1 million tonnes of green ammonia annually by 2028, with a goal of reaching 2 million tonnes by 2030.
The project also intends to supply surplus electricity to Namibia’s national grid and export hydrogen to South Africa.
“These projects are paced by multiple Final Investment Decisions between 2024 and 2028 and represent Namibia’s first wave of industrial-scale green hydrogen development,” the NGH2P stated.
As part of its broader planning efforts, the NGH2P has completed three pre-feasibility studies, funded to the tune of N$2.5 million.
One study confirmed the viability of an ammonia and fertiliser production facility near Neckartal Dam, aligning with agricultural development strategies.
Another study identified suitable sites for gigawatt-scale hydrogen projects outside the Tsau //Khaeb National Park, which could support downstream industries such as green steel, lithium beneficiation, and regional power exports.
A third study explored Namibia’s offshore wind potential near Lüderitz, estimated at between 20 and 35 gigawatts.
“The offshore wind study recommends a pilot turbine project to build local technical expertise and initiate structured knowledge transfer for this emerging technology,” Mnyupe said at the launch of the second Global Africa Hydrogen Summit 2025.
He added that the NGH2P continues to coordinate policy, technical, legal, environmental, and financial frameworks to ensure the sector’s responsible growth.
