Namibia has officially unveiled its first large-scale, solar-powered hydrogen production facility, marking a big step in the country’s push for green industrial growth and energy innovation.
The Cleanergy Solutions Namibia Hydrogen Dune Project, a joint effort between Belgium’s CMB.Tech and Namibia’s Ohlthaver & List Group, sits in Walvis Bay. Entirely powered by solar, the facility will produce green hydrogen to fuel dual-fuel trucks, buses, port equipment, locomotives, generators and even small ships.
Speaking at the launch, Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare, on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, said the project shows Namibia’s commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable development. He stressed that investments like this will create jobs, transfer skills and empower locals while also placing the country on the global clean energy map.
The European Union is backing the project under its Global Gateway initiative. EU Commissioner Jozef Sikela praised the facility as the beginning of Namibia’s hydrogen and ammonia journey, pointing to opportunities in trade, training and innovation between Europe and Africa.
To prepare its workforce, the project also comes with Namibia’s first hydrogen academy. The academy, built in partnership with both European and Namibian universities, will train engineers, technicians and operators to meet the growing demand of the hydrogen sector.
For Namibia, this milestone is more than an energy project—it’s a statement of intent to become a key player in the global clean energy market while ensuring its people share in the benefits.
