European Union (EU) Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, is visiting Namibia and South Africa this week to bolster energy ties and hydrogen cooperation.
The Commissioner aims to strengthen bilateral energy relations and explore opportunities for collaboration on hydrogen production and trade.
The visit to Namibia comes after the endorsement of a roadmap for the EU-Namibia strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials value chains and renewable hydrogen.
The partnership was agreed upon by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and former Namibian President Hage Geingob in October 2023.
The roadmap is backed by €1 billion in investments from the EU, its Member States, and European financial institutions.
During her time in Namibia, Commissioner Simson will attend the Global African Hydrogen Summit in Windhoek.
She is scheduled to participate in a panel discussion on Wednesday titled “Delivering Africa’s Energy Transition Through the Development of the Global Energy Map,” followed by a ministerial panel on Thursday focused on “Africa’s Hydrogen & Clean Energy Frontiers: The Industry’s Next Major Opportunities.”
Additionally, she will attend a signing ceremony on Wednesday for several EU-funded programs aimed at supporting clean energy transition and hydrogen development in Namibia.
On Friday and Saturday, Commissioner Simson will visit various energy-related projects, including the HyIron site, which is involved in green iron production, and the Port of Walvis Bay, where the EU is conducting a study to explore its potential as an industrial and logistics hub for the region.
Simson is also set to visit the “Towards an Inclusive Design of the Renewable Energy Transition” (TIDRET) project, which focuses on expanding access to affordable and clean energy, particularly in vulnerable communities.
In addition to these activities, Commissioner Simson has planned meetings with Namibian authorities, businesses, and civil society organisations during her stay in Windhoek.
