WalvisBay Sept 23 –In a historic milestone for boosting energy in Namibia and Africa at large, the Cde Dr. Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare, Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia, officially inaugurated Cleanergy Solutions Namibia’s green hydrogen production facility situated in secluded location in Walvis Bay, marking the first fully integrated site of its kind on the continent.
The project, a partnership between Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group and CMB.TECH, stands as a testament to what government leadership, private sector innovation, and international collaboration can achieve together. Speaking on behalf of President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Cde Ngurare underscored the project’s importance and alignment with Vision 2030:
“As Head of State, I reaffirm my government’s commitment to support initiatives that advance our green hydrogen agenda, create jobs, and secure long-term prosperity for Namibia. My government is committed to continuously improve on the ease of doing business to ensure that projects of this magnitude succeed and multiply. This inauguration is not the end of a journey but the beginning of a new chapter in Namibia’s industrial and developmental transformation.”
The Walvis Bay site is already producing hydrogen that fuels trucks, tractors, generators, and even a public transport and tested on buses used by City of Windhoek. Soon, it will power a dual-fuel locomotive and vessels at Namibia’s largest ports like Luderitz, cementing our role as a hub for sustainable logistics, energy and industrial powerhouse. For Namibia, the project signals more than technological progress—it’s a bold step toward continental leadership in green energy.Namibia’s Foreign Direct Investment Boom
Just four years ago, Namibia faced capital outflows and economic uncertainty. Today, the nation ranks among Africa’s top seven destinations for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
According to the inaugural FDI Report by the Bank of Namibia and NIPDB, more than N$114.9 billion in net FDI has flowed into the economy since 2021. While oil and gas discoveries in the Orange Basin dominate headlines, the real story lies elsewhere:
- N$56 billion invested in food, logistics, manufacturing, and energy.
- New ventures in rural areas: from Divundu blueberries to Walvis Bay hydrogen.
- 62,000+ jobs now directly supported by foreign-invested enterprises.
This surge of investment reflects Namibia’s transformation from a resource-dependent exporter into a launchpad for green value chains and regional trade.Challenges
Yet, as momentum builds, risks remain. Over N$174 billion in potential projects could stall due to land access bottlenecks, policy uncertainty, and slow permitting systems.
The message is clear: capital alone is not enough. Namibia must match investment with coordination, efficiency, and enabling systems that unlock value across sectors.
Namibia’s clean energy journey is not just about infrastructure—it’s about identity. With projects like Cleanergy Solutions Namibia leading the way, the country is positioning itself as:
- A pioneer in Africa’s green hydrogen economy.
- A logistics hub for regional and global trade.
- A nation where vision meets infrastructure, and investment meets opportunity.
As Prime Minister Ngurare declared at the inauguration: “Together, we are shaping Namibia’s industrial and developmental transformation.” The message resonates far beyond Walvis Bay. Namibia is not waiting for the future—it is building it, one milestone at a time.
Namibian Times
