The Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group and Belgium-based CMB.TECH has launched Cleanergy Namibia, Namibia’s first green hydrogen production plant.

The plant, which will serve as a demonstration hub for hydrogen applications, will be built in the Erongo Region, with construction set to begin in 2022 and completion expected by the end of 2023.

Sven Thieme, the executive chairman of O&L Group, at a press conference here Tuesday said that Namibia is a growing hub when it comes to the generation of renewable energy, whether that be through solar, wind or hydroelectric power. This makes the country optimally positioned to explore the generation of green hydrogen, or hydrogen generated using renewable energy, he said, adding that Namibia in particular, has the capacity to generate solar power.

“It is with these encouraging prospects that we have established, and now officially launch, Cleanergy Namibia, a company designed to explore green hydrogen generation through the country’s first green hydrogen demonstration plant, an US.dollars 18 million investment set to be completed and operational in 2023,” he said.

Thieme stated that the demonstration plant could prove to be the first step in creating an entirely new industry in Namibia, in addition to enabling knowledge transfer into the country; upskilling opportunities and job creation; and driving further research, including collaboration with the University of Namibia.

According to James Mnyupe, Presidential Economic Advisor and Green Hydrogen Commission member, energy security is the backbone of any major push for industrialisation, which typically increases income and consumption.

Moreover, energy security promotes economic growth, whereas energy insecurity, as measured by energy intensity and carbon intensity variables, has a negative impact on economic growth.

“Namibia is a net importer of energy and a major victim of climate change. Despite this, it possesses extremely large renewable energy endowments. As we investigated potential new growth engines for Namibia in late 2020, we discovered that there is a systemic global push toward a just energy transition and that Namibia is extremely strategically well-positioned to benefit from this windfall,” Mnyupe said.

He stated that while the rest of the 100 000 government employees work hard to promote economic progress through investment-friendly policies, sustainable infrastructure and social equity, the few Namibians who are coordinating the incubation of this industry are working on a “game-changer”.

“If this government succeeds in doing so in collaboration with its local, regional and global partners and peer countries, Namibia could realistically pursue a current account surplus, be energy independent, its citizens will benefit from lower power costs, and will be beneficiaries of a growing sovereign wealth fund, and we may even consider having our own currency,” he said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency