Dalene Kooper
LÜDERITZ – Vice President, Lucia Witbooi, on Sunday reaffirmed the government’s support for the country’s green energy ambitions by pledging the necessary support for the flagship Hyphen Green Hydrogen project.
The Hyphen project, with a projected investment of around US$10 billion (approximately N$168 billion), aims to produce 350 000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually when fully developed.
The project, which has been scheduled to start producing green hydrogen this year, is set to replace five to six million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. The project will be developed at Tsau//Khaeb National Park’s Angra Point in the //Kharas region.
“Having seen firsthand the scale and ambition of what is envisaged here, the proposed location for critical infrastructure, including the future port development, one gains a deeper appreciation for the scale of the journey that Namibia is embarking on. This coastline, once seen as remote, is now at the centre of a global opportunity,” said Witbooi after visiting the site this past weekend.
Speaking after a visit to the designated location of the green hydrogen project, the Vice President emphasised that the project is being developed within the framework of Namibian law, under a transparent and structured agreement with the government, and in full alignment with national development priorities.
“The development we are pursuing here is designed to be responsible, sustainable, and inclusive, ensuring that economic progress does not come at the expense of protecting our natural environment or cultural heritage,” Witbooi stated.
The Vice President further noted that green hydrogen not only presents economic growth opportunities but will also be instrumental in ensuring that employment opportunities are prioritised for local communities in the Hardap and //Kharas regions.
“Training and employment opportunities in this sector are prioritised for local communities to benefit from the natural resources,” said Witbooi.
Chief Executive Officer of Hyphen, Marco Raffinetti, presented Angra Point as the site for a new port expansion alongside key infrastructure. He said the planned infrastructure will play a central role in supporting Namibia’s emerging green hydrogen industry.
“The peninsula effectively shields the development, meaning the bulk of the infrastructure will not be visible from the town,” he said, adding that this was a deliberate design consideration to limit the visual impact of the project.
The proposed site spans several hectares and has been designed to accommodate up to 18 million tonnes of ammonia exports annually.
Raffinetti added that Hyphen’s initial project, however, eventually targets the production of two million tonnes of ammonia, forming part of government’s broader ambition to establish a green hydrogen valley capable of producing up to three million tonnes.
Raffinetti explained that the ‘Lüderitz Bay’ (Angra Point) area will host a new export facility, including an ammonia export berth with an initial capacity of six million tonnes.
A dedicated project cargo facility is also planned to manage the influx of construction materials and equipment.
He stressed that the development of a localised port facility is essential to avoid straining Namibia’s existing road infrastructure.
“Transporting equipment from Walvis Bay over several years would significantly disrupt the national road network. This approach ensures minimal interference with current traffic flows,” he said.
The site’s natural depth of approximately 18 metres is expected to accommodate both current and future generations of large ammonia vessels, positioning Lüderitz as a competitive export hub for the growing global green hydrogen market. Moreover, to export infrastructure, the project is designed to include a desalination plant to supply water for hydrogen production.
Seawater will be drawn via offshore pipelines, treated, and the resulting brine will be discharged back into the ocean under controlled conditions to prevent environmental harm.
Raffinetti emphasised that environmental considerations have been central to the project’s design, particularly given the ecological sensitivity of the surrounding areas.
“The footprint in the ocean is very small, and we have been extremely careful in ensuring that the marine environment is protected,” he assured.
The facility is further expected to adhere to the highest international safety standards, including double-walled storage tanks and temperature-controlled systems to minimise risk.
“In the unlikely event of an incident, the design ensures that any release would dissipate over the ocean and not impact human settlements,” Raffinetti added.
The CEO also pointed out that the selected development area consists largely of salt flats with limited biodiversity, allowing for more responsible development than in nearby ecologically sensitive zones.