Namibia to launch green fertiliser production in 2026
Namibia is preparing to launch its first end-to-end green fertiliser production initiative, with the Daures Green Hydrogen Village set to begin producing fertiliser by the fourth quarter of 2026 from its newly launched pilot operations.
Located in the Daures Constituency of the Erongo Region, the facility aims to position Namibia as a local and regional producer and exporter of green ammonium sulphate fertiliser.
The project uses solar energy to produce green hydrogen and ammonia, which are then synthesised into green fertiliser. This renewable approach reduces Namibia’s reliance on costly fertiliser imports and helps combat food insecurity by enabling local production.
“We want to ensure Namibia is not only a consumer of international technology but becomes a contributor to global innovation in agriculture," CEO Jerome Namaseb said during a media visit to the site on 29 April.
"This project is not a concept anymore – it is being implemented and scaled.”
He added that the Daures Green Hydrogen Village was selected as one of only five global “lighthouse projects” under the competitive United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) accelerate-to-demonstrate programme, securing international support and funding.
The development is split into three phases, with the pilot phase targeting an annual output of 100 tonnes of fertiliser by 2026. Subsequent scaling phases will raise production to 420 tonnes per year each, bringing total potential output to over 900 tonnes annually. The facility will produce green ammonium sulphate, which is critical for improving yields in the region’s underperforming agricultural sector.
“Africa currently uses about one-seventh of the globally recommended amount of fertiliser per hectare. That’s one of the key reasons for low yields and food insecurity,” Namaseb explained.
“Our solution tackles that head-on by producing locally, using clean energy, and reducing reliance on global supply chains disrupted by issues like the war in Ukraine.”
Knowledge-powered project
Currently funded by Germany’s federal ministry of education and research, with further support now committed by UNIDO, the project includes a knowledge dissemination programme and partnerships to train Namibian students in green hydrogen and agricultural applications.
The fertiliser initiative forms part of Namibia’s broader green industrialisation strategy. The production process, powered by wind and solar energy, extracts hydrogen from water and nitrogen from air to produce green ammonia, a key component of the fertiliser. This model aligns with Namibia’s goals to decarbonise its economy and reduce food and energy imports, which currently account for over 40% of national needs.
“We have an unemployment rate over 35%. Agriculture remains the largest employer. This is not just about fertiliser, it’s about creating industries, jobs and capacity in Namibia,” Namaseb stressed.
Located in the Daures Constituency of the Erongo Region, the facility aims to position Namibia as a local and regional producer and exporter of green ammonium sulphate fertiliser.
The project uses solar energy to produce green hydrogen and ammonia, which are then synthesised into green fertiliser. This renewable approach reduces Namibia’s reliance on costly fertiliser imports and helps combat food insecurity by enabling local production.
“We want to ensure Namibia is not only a consumer of international technology but becomes a contributor to global innovation in agriculture," CEO Jerome Namaseb said during a media visit to the site on 29 April.
"This project is not a concept anymore – it is being implemented and scaled.”
He added that the Daures Green Hydrogen Village was selected as one of only five global “lighthouse projects” under the competitive United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) accelerate-to-demonstrate programme, securing international support and funding.
The development is split into three phases, with the pilot phase targeting an annual output of 100 tonnes of fertiliser by 2026. Subsequent scaling phases will raise production to 420 tonnes per year each, bringing total potential output to over 900 tonnes annually. The facility will produce green ammonium sulphate, which is critical for improving yields in the region’s underperforming agricultural sector.
“Africa currently uses about one-seventh of the globally recommended amount of fertiliser per hectare. That’s one of the key reasons for low yields and food insecurity,” Namaseb explained.
“Our solution tackles that head-on by producing locally, using clean energy, and reducing reliance on global supply chains disrupted by issues like the war in Ukraine.”
Knowledge-powered project
Currently funded by Germany’s federal ministry of education and research, with further support now committed by UNIDO, the project includes a knowledge dissemination programme and partnerships to train Namibian students in green hydrogen and agricultural applications.
The fertiliser initiative forms part of Namibia’s broader green industrialisation strategy. The production process, powered by wind and solar energy, extracts hydrogen from water and nitrogen from air to produce green ammonia, a key component of the fertiliser. This model aligns with Namibia’s goals to decarbonise its economy and reduce food and energy imports, which currently account for over 40% of national needs.
“We have an unemployment rate over 35%. Agriculture remains the largest employer. This is not just about fertiliser, it’s about creating industries, jobs and capacity in Namibia,” Namaseb stressed.
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