Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) sets a target to produce 1.3 million tonnes of green ammonia and 143 GWh of baseload electricity from green hydrogen annually by 2030.
These targets are part of the country’s broader strategy to develop a green hydrogen economy and reduce its dependency on fossil fuels.
By 2025, Namibia had attracted N$3.5 billion in investment commitments for green hydrogen projects, with N$1.6 billion already implemented.
The country aims to create 30,000 jobs across the hydrogen value chain and achieve 30 per cent local participation by the end of the decade.
Projects currently underway include the Daures Green Hydrogen Project, Cleanergy Solutions Namibia, the Hyphen Hydrogen Energy Project, the Envision-Zhero Ammonia Plant, the Hydrogen De France (HDF) initiative, and the HyIron Oshivela Project.
These projects have created 800 direct jobs to date.
The 2022 Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Strategy and the 2024 Green Industrialisation Blueprint form the policy framework for implementation.
Namibia has also pre-launched the !Nara Namib Industrial Zone in Walvis Bay is part of its proposed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) framework to attract investment.
Institutional arrangements include the Namibia Green Hydrogen Council and the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGHP), which were established to coordinate project rollouts and mobilise investment.
The Youth for Green Hydrogen Scholarship Programme has supported 180 students, with plans including the establishment of a Green Hydrogen Research Institute and local innovation hubs.
Infrastructure development under NDP6 will focus on pipelines, port facilities, storage, and the manufacturing of renewable energy components.
Namibia will also conduct Strategic Environmental and Social Assessments (SESAs) in hydrogen valleys across the country to ensure responsible development.
To make green hydrogen cost-competitive with fossil fuels, Namibia plans to introduce Contracts for Difference (CfDs) and pursue economic diplomacy to secure agreements with potential global buyers, including the European Union, Japan, and South Korea.
President Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah officially launched NDP6 in Windhoek on Monday.
