Hyphen Hydrogen Energy plans to channel about N$54 billion into Namibian businesses through its green hydrogen project, as part of a commitment to allocate 30% of total investment to local procurement.
The commitment is based on an estimated project value of more than US$10 billion, positioning the initiative as one of the largest planned injections of capital into the local private sector.
Senior Manager Johannes Shipepe said the scale of the investment requires targeted efforts to identify capable Namibian firms and build the capacity needed to meet project demands.
“We have committed to spend about 30% of our investment on local companies, which translates to roughly US$3 billion, or about N$54 billion flowing into the Namibian economy. This is a significant amount and requires us to identify the right opportunities and support local companies to deliver the required goods and services,” he said.
The company has rolled out an Enterprise and Supplier Development programme to prepare local firms for participation in the project and the wider hydrogen sector.
More than 400 companies have already been assessed to determine their readiness, operational constraints and potential role in supplying goods and services across the value chain.
Shipepe said the programme focuses on strengthening tendering capacity, compliance and certification, while improving access to finance and facilitating partnerships with experienced international players.
“The objective is to ensure Namibian companies are not limited to basic services but are able to compete for more specialised opportunities across the value chain,” he said.
Hyphen Chief Executive Officer Marco Raffinetti said the localisation drive is central to building a domestic industrial base linked to the hydrogen sector.
“We made a commitment to the Government of Namibia to drive local content, and this initiative demonstrates that commitment. It is about building supply chains, skills and industrial capacity that will support future developments,” he said.
The project is currently in the feasibility stage, with a final investment decision targeted for 2026 and construction of the first phase expected to begin before year-end.
Located in the Tsau //Khaeb National Park near Lüderitz, the development is expected to produce one million tonnes of green ammonia annually by 2028, doubling to two million tonnes by 2030.
The project is also expected to create around 15,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent positions, while supporting additional power and water supply to Lüderitz and the national grid.
