The Namibia Hydrogen Fund Managers says it currently manages around N$1.3 billion (€65 million) and has committed financing to two flagship projects, Hyphen and HyIron, as part of efforts to move pilot projects towards commercialisation and accelerate the country’s entry into the global green hydrogen market.
According to CEO of Namibia Hydrogen Fund Managers, Mercia Geises, while momentum is building, the sector still faces hurdles.
High costs and efficiency challenges associated with electrolysers remain a barrier to competitiveness against fossil fuels and grey hydrogen. Industry leaders stress that large-scale policy frameworks and continued investment are essential to unlock the sector’s full potential.
“Currently we’ve got about 65 million euros under management, and we have committed funding to two projects in Namibia. We are development partners to the Hyphen project, and we are also development partners to the HyIron project,” she said.
Geises explained that despite these challenges, Namibia is well placed to lead Africa’s green hydrogen transition due to its abundant renewable resources. The projects are expected to contribute not only to exports but also to regional industrialisation, energy self-sufficiency, and infrastructure development.
Looking ahead, attracting investment and climate finance from institutions such as the African Development Bank, the EU, and the World Bank will be vital to scaling projects.
“They’re all playing their role in supporting the sector, particularly in Africa. I think that’s the two big drivers, so that we have policy that supports the transition and that we remain committed to the transition, but also that we realise that there is an opportunity, not just for exports, but for us to industrialise our economies,” she said.
The upcoming hydrogen summit is expected to serve as a milestone for Namibia, with at least three pilot projects set to be operational by then. Fund managers hope the event will secure more commitments from multilateral financiers, enabling Namibia to transition from pilots to commercial green hydrogen production by 2030.
Founded in 2023 and licensed by the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority in 2024, Namibia Hydrogen Fund Managers (Pty) Ltd is a joint venture between Climate Fund Managers (CFM), a climate-focused blended finance investment manager; the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF), owned by the Government of Namibia; and Invest International, a Dutch development finance institution.
