Realising Namibia’s goal of becoming a green hydrogen hub and addressing energy security of supply is a task that cannot be achieved by government alone.
The goal will require private sector investment, mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo said on Saturday at the Dubai Expo during a business summit on Namibia’s renewable energy.
In a pre-recorded message, Alweendo said Namibia will require local and international investors for the development of the country’s energy sector.
“It is, therefore, our commitment to the investors that we will do all that is necessary to ensure that your investment in Namibia is protected and secure,” said Alweendo.
He noted that countries around the world, including Namibia, are united in transitioning to a future based on renewable energy, as they all share the concern on the devastating impact of fossil fuel energy use on the environment.
In this regard, the minister stated that the globally adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change have provided the world with an ambitious framework to keep global warming within safe limits.
As such, he stated, Namibia recognises renewable energy as a solution to climate change.
Said Alweendo: “Recognising the inevitability of the energy transition, we understand and accept that fossil fuel is no longer the fuel of the future and that the world is transitioning to renewable energy. We are, however, also calling for an energy transition that is just and equitable among nations. No one should feel left out. We need to guard against an energy transition process that has the potential to adversely affect some without any mitigation. It is the case that countries that are highly dependent on fossil fuel for their socio-economic development may need a little more time to transition than countries that have already made an inroad into the renewable energy space”.
The mines minister added Namibia has the world’s second-highest solar irradiation regime, high wind power potential and potential for geothermal and bioenergy developments.
As such, he said, the potential for green electricity production in Namibia is many times the country’s domestic electricity consumption.
“As a demonstration of our commitment to the transition from fossil fuel energy, renewable energy features prominently in our economic recovery plan that was recently launched by H.E President Hage G. Geingob. As part of the recovery plan, Namibia has a goal to be a green hydrogen hub on the African continent. To realise our goal, in August this year, we issued an international RFP (request for proposals) to identify private sector investors to collaborate with us in building green hydrogen assets in Namibia. Several reputable companies responded to our RFP, and we thank them for their interest in working with us,” Alweendo added.
According to a preliminary study by the World Bank, Namibia could produce highly competitive green hydrogen – and with limited local demand, these exports could be key to the country’s green hydrogen strategy.
According to Namibia’s updated National Integrated Resource Plan, the country is targeting a base case scenario consisting of a minimum of 70% share of energy to be supplied from renewable energy by 2030.
The plan also envisages that by 2028, 80% of primary energy used will be locally generated.