Neckartal Dam, Namibia’s largest reservoir, is being positioned to host a green ammonia and fertiliser plant following a feasibility study under the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P).
The study found that an ammonia and fertiliser facility linked to the dam is technically and economically viable.
The dam sits on the Fish River near Keetmanshoop in the //Karas Region.
It is a roller-compacted concrete, curved-gravity structure, roughly 78–80 metres high and approximately 518 metres long.
At full supply it stores approximately 857 million cubic metres of water.
Construction began in 2013, practical completion was achieved in 2018, and the project was inaugurated in 2020.
Government expenditure on building the dam is reported to be approximately N$5.5 billion, with figures in public records ranging between N$5.4 billion and N$5.7 billion. The owner and operator is NamWater.
Neckartal was conceived to anchor irrigated agriculture in southern Namibia.
The first phase of the Green Scheme envisaged 5,000 hectares under irrigation, with provision to expand up to 20,000 hectares as infrastructure and markets allowed. While the irrigation component has progressed more slowly than the civil works, the fertiliser concept gives the dam an immediate industrial role that directly supports its agricultural purpose.
The proposed fertiliser output is green ammonia.
In this configuration, hydrogen is generated through water electrolysis using renewable electricity and combined with nitrogen from the air to form ammonia.
The product could be supplied directly for agricultural use or upgraded into standard fertiliser blends.
Locating production adjacent to Neckartal secures a reliable process-water source and shortens delivery routes to the intended irrigation blocks.
The fertiliser assessment formed part of three pre-feasibility studies funded through the NGH2P with a combined allocation of about N$2.5 million.
A second study identified sites outside Tsau //Khaeb National Park as suitable for gigawatt-scale green-hydrogen production, with potential links to energy-intensive industries—such as green steel and mineral beneficiation—and to regional power exports via the Southern African Power Pool.
A third study reviewed offshore wind potential near Lüderitz and reported a technical resource in the range of roughly 20–35 gigawatts, recommending that a pilot turbine be initiated to develop local capability.
A domestic reference point is the Daures Green Hydrogen Village in the Erongo Region. The pilot has been built to first-phase specifications and has secured €13.8 million for scale-up.
Project documentation describes a 15,000-hectare footprint and an initial target to supply up to one-third of Namibia’s fertiliser demand using green ammonia. Although Daures is geographically distinct from Neckartal, it demonstrates the practical steps required to convert renewable electricity and water into near-market agricultural inputs.
Implementing the Neckartal fertiliser concept will require several elements to be aligned.
Water allocation and operations planning must ensure industrial supply alongside ecological flows and irrigation quotas from the Neckartal system.
A dedicated renewable-power solution—sized for continuous electrolyser operation—needs firm grid connections and, where necessary, storage to maintain stable plant utilisation.
Permitting and compliance will involve a complete environmental and social impact assessment for the fertiliser facility and associated infrastructure.
Logistics must cover safe handling and distribution of fertiliser products through the Keetmanshoop road-rail node and established corridors.
Bankable offtake agreements will be needed to cover domestic demand and potential regional sales.
In terms of basic specifications and milestones, the dam is located approximately 40 kilometres from Keetmanshoop, is built as a curved-gravity roller-compacted concrete structure with a crest length of about 518 metres and a height of nearly 80 metres, and impounds around 857 million cubic metres at full supply. Construction spanned from 2013 to 2018, with the inauguration in 2020, and the recorded construction cost stands at approximately N$5.5 billion.
The original purpose remains bulk water supply for irrigation—starting with 5,000 hectares and expandable to about 20,000 hectares—and, subject to approvals, process water for a green ammonia and fertiliser plant.
Neckartal Dam provides the water storage and siting needed for a domestic green-fertiliser project.
At the same time, complementary NGH2P studies outline large-scale hydrogen sites and offshore wind potential to supply the necessary clean power.
With specifications, cost, capacity, and timeline established, the following steps focus on permitting, power integration, water governance, and market offtake, so that the dam can support both irrigated agriculture and a new, locally produced stream of fertiliser.
