Walvis Bay embraces Green Hydrogen as catalyst for economic growth

he Municipality of Walvis Bay, in partnership with the Namibia Green Hydrogen Association (NamGHA), the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), hosted an engagement on Green Hydrogen Employment and Local Content Opportunities on Friday, 10 October 2025, at the Protea Hotel Walvis Bay Indongo.Held under the theme “Unlocking Transformative Economic Opportunities”, the event brought together key stakeholders from government, the private sector, and the renewable energy industry to discuss the growing opportunities within Namibia’s evolving green energy landscape.In her address, the Chief Executive Officer of the Municipality of Walvis Bay, Victoria Kapenda, emphasised the town’s readiness to position itself as a strategic hub for green hydrogen and related industries. She highlighted the municipality’s proactive approach to land allocation and investment facilitation, noting that although infrastructure development remains a challenge, collaborative efforts with investors and government agencies are underway to accelerate progress.“We are deliberately assessing how best we can assist investors. While we negotiate land allocations, we also ensure that our infrastructure can support large-scale projects such as those in the green hydrogen space,” she said.Heavy industriesKapenda explained that industrial developments are being prioritised at Farm 58, designated for heavy industries such as clean energy projects, and Farm 38, earmarked for light industrial activities. Meanwhile, Farm 37 continues to serve as a major housing development initiative aimed at addressing urban expansion and informal settlement challenges.The CEO also called for stronger partnerships between the municipality, investors, and local businesses to ensure sustainable development, urging companies to present detailed business and development plans when applying for land.“We want to avoid land speculation. Our aim is to ensure that when businesses are allocated land, tangible development follows that benefits both the municipality and the residents through employment and economic growth,” she added.Representing NamGHA, an Italian-based renewable energy developer outlined a green hydrogen and ammonia production project that will be implemented in collaboration with Hop Hydro, a Namibian partner. The project includes the development of a solar photovoltaic (PV) field and a hydrogen production plant at Farm 58, with plans to export approximately 500,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually.Research and trainingThe developer explained that the project will source seawater for desalination and utilise renewable electricity to produce hydrogen, which will then be converted into ammonia for international export markets. The initiative is projected to create 4 700 local jobs during construction and 330 permanent jobs during operations.In addition to job creation, the project will contribute an estimated US$2 billion in local taxes over 25 years and allocate part of its budget to community initiatives and skills development, including partnerships with institutions such as the University of Namibia (UNAM) for research and training.Despite the optimism, the developer noted several challenges facing large-scale renewable energy projects, including restrictive lease agreements, overlapping Exclusive Prospecting Licences (EPLs), and delays in securing servitudes. Nonetheless, confidence remains high in Namibia’s potential to become a leading player in the global hydrogen economy.“Namibia remains one of the most promising locations for green hydrogen production. We believe that through collaboration with government, local authorities, and communities, this industry will bring transformative benefits to the country,” said Dr Grant Muller, the representative of NamGHA.

Walvis Bay embraces Green Hydrogen as catalyst for economic growth

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-16

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Walvis Bay embraces Green Hydrogen as catalyst for economic growth

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-16

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