The Namibian government has received interest from investors and developers following its invitation of proposals for green industrialisation projects under the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P).
Speaking at a recently held stakeholder workshop in Windhoek, transaction advisor at CrossBoundary Group Pierre-Adrien Baudelet said the 148 project proposals were submitted, representing potential investments of around US$1 billion (N$16.5 billion).
The proposals were discussed during a two-day workshop held in Windhoek with project developers, consultants and financial partners.
The initiative forms part of Namibia’s plan to move toward low-carbon industrial development while creating new economic opportunities.
Through the programme, the country has secured access to up to US$250 million in concessional climate finance to support green projects.
Baudelet said the large number of submissions shows that Namibia already has a strong pipeline of green investment opportunities.
He stated that, although 148 projects were submitted, 77 projects were identified as closely aligned with the objectives of the programme and the Climate Investment Funds initiative.
Baudelet said the proposals cover a wide range of sectors, including clean energy production, industrial development, infrastructure, value addition, circular economy initiatives and climate-smart agriculture.
He noted that the diversity of projects is a positive sign, indicating the potential for broader economic and social benefits across sectors.
“Some of the proposed projects are already at an advanced stage of development, while others are still in early planning phases.
“The programme team said more than 90% of the projects require concessional or blended finance to help move forward,” he said. Consultant Fredrick Benzel said the next step will involve working closely with project developers to collect more detailed information about their proposals.
Developers will be asked to sign non-disclosure agreements to protect their project information before submitting additional details through a secure virtual data room.
“The process will help the team understand the readiness of each project and identify those that can attract investment and move towards final investment decisions,” he said. The programme aims to mobilise more than US$1 billion in total investment with support from development banks and other financial partners. Government officials say the initiative supports Namibia’s development priorities and aims to strengthen the country’s role in green energy and sustainable industry.
Opportunity
Speaking at the workshop, the director general of the National Planning Commission, Kaire Mbuende, said that the Climate Investment Funds Industrial Decarbonisation Programme represents a strategic opportunity for Namibia to accelerate its economic development and diversification agenda as outlined in the Sixth National Development Plan.
Through this initiative, the country has secured access to up to US$250 million (N$4.1 billion) in concessional climate finance to support the transition toward low-carbon industrial development.
“This facility is more than a source of financing. It is a catalytic instrument that enables Namibia to translate national policy into practical industrial investments. By supporting Namibian-owned projects and mobilising private sector participation, the programme will help unlock industrial infrastructure, stimulate investment and reduce pressure on the national fiscus,” he said.
Mbuende added that, under Pillar One of the NDP6, Namibia has set ambitious targets to strengthen economic transformation and resilience.
These include the expansion of manufacturing, increased contribution of secondary industries to national output and the creation of thousands of green jobs by 2030.
Achieving these targets requires sustained investment in industrial infrastructure, clean energy systems and modern production capabilities.
“The project pipeline emerging from this initiative demonstrates the scale of opportunity before us. Proposed investments focus on mineral beneficiation, low-carbon manufacturing, industrial system decarbonisation and value addition in critical minerals.
These initiatives will modernise Namibia’s production systems, expand industrial value chains, and position the country competitively within emerging global green markets,” he said.
He added that such investments will also stimulate demand for supporting infrastructure, including energy transmission networks, logistics corridors, industrial parks, water infrastructure and digital systems.
These sectors are priority investment areas under NDP6 and form the backbone of Namibia’s long-term industrialisation strategy.
“Partnership remains a cornerstone of Namibia’s development approach. The collaboration represented at this workshop demonstrates the collective commitment of government, development finance institutions and the private sector to advancing sustainable industrial growth,” he said.
He noted that the Industrial Decarbonisation Programme offers a unique platform to build modern industries, strengthen infrastructure, create sustainable jobs and accelerate inclusive economic growth.