Namport and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges reaffirmed their partnership during the Global African Hydrogen Summit in Windhoek, cementing plans to transform Walvis Bay into Africa’s next logistics and energy super-hub.
The collaboration, first formalised in a memorandum of understanding in September 2023, has now been restated at a time when Namibia is positioning itself at the forefront of the green hydrogen revolution.
The expansion project, valued at N$60 billion, will create over 1,300 hectares of new port infrastructure at Walvis Bay’s North Port.
The blueprint includes more than 30 berths, dry and liquid bulk terminals, multipurpose facilities, passenger terminals, and rig-repair yards. Crucially, it will also provide dedicated facilities for green hydrogen and ammonia exports, a cornerstone of Namibia’s strategy to link African production to European energy markets.
Green ammonia volumes expected to pass through Walvis Bay are already significant. The Hyphen Hydrogen Energy project in Tsau Khaeb is projected to produce around 2 million tonnes of green ammonia annually once both phases are complete.
The Daures Green Hydrogen Village in Erongo is targeting an additional 1 million tonnes per year, while Zhero’s project near Walvis Bay will add another 500,000 tonnes annually.
Together, these ventures could see Walvis Bay handling up to 3.5 million tonnes of green ammonia per year for export.
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Europe’s second-largest seaport and home to the continent’s most significant integrated chemical cluster, will play a pivotal role as the receiving hub.
With deep expertise in handling chemical products and advancing Europe’s energy transition, Antwerp-Bruges provides Namibia with a direct gateway to industrial consumers across the European continent.
The link ensures that Namibian exports meet global standards of safety, sustainability, and scalability.
For Namibia, the partnership with Antwerp is not merely about shipping molecules.
It is about creating a logistics corridor that will anchor its emerging green industrialisation.
Walvis Bay, once a modest multipurpose port, is now positioned to evolve into a continental hub for both conventional trade and renewable energy exports.
The shift signals a new era of foreign direct investment, job creation, and regional growth, aligning Namport with world-class standards and opening new trade corridors between Africa and Europe.
The affirmation at the Global African Hydrogen Summit underscores that Namibia’s energy future is not an isolated national endeavour but part of a broader reconfiguration of global supply chains.
With Walvis Bay expected to channel millions of tonnes of green ammonia annually to Antwerp-Bruges and beyond, the port is becoming a cornerstone of Africa’s role in Europe’s decarbonisation journey.
