Hydrogen pipeline between Namibia, SA considered

Namibia and South Africa's Northern Cape and Western Cape development agencies Wesgro and Nceda have signed an agreement for a feasibility study for a hydrogen trade pipeline between the neighbouring countries.

The study, set to be undertaken by leading Dutch hydrogen developer Gasunie, was announced by President Nangolo Mbumba yesterday when he spoke as a guest of honour at the World Hydrogen Summit in the Netherlands.

Mbumba said the 21st century has the potential to transform the African continent into a place where cleaner technology is harnessed to leapfrog industrialisation and economic reform. This is why the Namibian government is taking the lead in efforts to develop green hydrogen, he said.

Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced by using renewable energy sources. Namibia's first nine hydrogen projects were set to be showcased at the summit, which ends today.

“Green hydrogen offers opportunities beyond just clean molecule production - it holds the potential to anchor new industries in emerging markets around the world," the president said.

According to Mbumba, Namibia has always held the desire to be an essential logistics hub for the southern African region. "To advance this ambition, we are now developing an ammonia storage hub and a green hydrogen-powered train to decarbonise shipping and long-distance logistics routes, ensuring that goods and commodities transported through our port infrastructure reduce emissions," he said.

This will not only improve the competitiveness of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz, but will also strengthen the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and promote intra-African trade. Furthermore, Namibia plans to produce iron with the help of renewable energy sources, to make the steel industry - responsible for 8% of the world's emissions - cleaner. All this is included in Namibia's green industrialisation blueprint, he said.

Global urgency

Mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo spoke at the start of the summit’s African Hydrogen Forum meeting. He said the Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance is now 10 member states strong. He specifically highlighted Morocco, Mauritania, Kenya and South Africa's efforts to establish green hydrogen industries locally.

Alweendo said the global urgency to address climate change is making more funding available, as indicated by US$1.8 billion invested in the transition to clean energy sources last year, 17% more than before. Furthermore, the minister noted that critical minerals such as rare earth minerals, lithium, copper, cobalt and others can only be found in a handful of countries, mostly in Africa.

"As Africans we must realise that when it is linked with green hydrogen, these natural resources are a generational opportunity for us to provide long-lasting prosperity for our people. Green industrialisation is indeed the opportunity that binds local, regional and global agendas.”

The minister said it is "critical that we work together with our regional neighbours", and highlighted the development of the Trans-Caprivi and Trans-Kalahari railways, as well as power transmission lines within the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), as priorities.

Alweendo and Mbumba both made a point of highlighting the Global African Hydrogen Summit, planned for 3 to 5 September in Windhoek.

“Allow me to extend an invitation to all to join Namibia and the rest of Africa as we look to host this summit," Mbumba said during his speech.