Four years after the idea was first announced, Cleanergy Solutions Namibia has completed and commissioned Africa’s first fully integrated green hydrogen plant at Walvis Bay.
The facility is now producing hydrogen, establishing Namibia as a pioneer in the continental energy transition.
While countries such as Germany, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates have already launched large-scale hydrogen production facilities, these are mainly geared toward export markets.
Most of them produce hydrogen but lack full integration with local refuelling infrastructure and skills development.
Walvis Bay’s project distinguishes itself by producing hydrogen on-site while simultaneously offering refuelling and training capacity — a first for Africa and rare even by global standards.
The plant is the result of a joint venture between Namibia’s Ohlthaver & List Group and Belgium’s CMB.TECH.
Their financing and technology partnership formed the backbone of the project.
Writing on his LinkedIn after the unveiling, O&L Executive Chairman Sven Thieme described the event as “a historic milestone as we unveiled Cleanergy Solutions Namibia’s green hydrogen production and refuelling facility.”
It was further supported by the European Union under its Global Gateway initiative, with Brussels describing it as a cornerstone for future green maritime corridors and hydrogen-powered transport.
Germany also played a significant role through the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and SASSCAL, which provided research support and helped build the knowledge base for the Hydrogen Academy.
According to a statement carried on CMB.TECH’s official platform, Thieme said: “Cleanergy is a significant investment for the CMB Group. It is the first major hydrogen production project in Africa and will prove that green hydrogen can be produced efficiently and cheaply with the renewable African sun.”
The money and the backers
Expansion signals have already been flagged, with plans for an ammonia jetty and storage facility at Walvis Bay tied to a potential €3 billion investment pipeline, alongside further German contributions.
These facilities would enable the plant not only to serve local industry and transportation needs, but also to position Namibia as an exporter of green ammonia to regional and international markets.
The site, referred to as the “Hydrogen Dune,” integrates a 5 MW solar park, a 5 MW electrolyser, a refuelling station, a battery system, and a Hydrogen Academy. Hydrogen is already being produced off-grid and is used to power dual-fuel trucks, tractors, monofuel hydrogen generators, and port logistics equipment.
A 500-bar mobile refuelling unit is planned to extend supply to a wider area.
Cleanergy has not disclosed daily production figures. Reports instead emphasise its installed power capacity and the demonstration of practical use cases, from transport to industrial and agricultural applications.
The project brings together industrial anchors O&L and CMB.TECH, supported by the Namibian Government, EU institutions, SASSCAL, and German research and development partners.
Together, these players link hydrogen production to skills training, with the Hydrogen Academy central to developing the workforce for Namibia’s emerging hydrogen economy.
Rail and maritime future
By 2026, Cleanergy plans to expand its scope into the transport and maritime sectors.
A diesel locomotive will be converted to hydrogen use, marking one of Africa’s first rail decarbonisation pilots.
In addition, a hydrogen-powered harbour vessel — under construction in the Netherlands — will be deployed at Walvis Bay.
These projects are intended to test hydrogen use in rail, port, and shipping logistics.
Cleanergy’s launch aligns with Namibia’s Vision 2030 and National Development Plan Six (NDP6), which emphasise industrialisation, skills development, and green energy transition.
Its location in Walvis Bay ties the project directly to ports, rail, and trucking corridors, as well as to the broader Erongo renewable resource base.
EU partners have identified it as a potential early node for green maritime corridors and the future export of hydrogen and ammonia.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare officiated at the launch on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, noting that the project demonstrates Namibia’s ability to build new industries and prepare its young people for a future anchored in clean energy.
About O&L
The Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group, founded in 1919, is Namibia’s largest and most diversified privately held conglomerate.
With operations ranging from Namibia Breweries and Hartlief to Namibia Dairies, the group employs over 6,500 people and contributes substantially to the national economy through retail outlets such as Pick’n Pay (Model), Hangana Seafood, and O&L Leisure hotels. Its Vision 2029 strategy aims to positively impact one million Namibians daily, reflecting a shift toward innovation and long-term sustainability.
That commitment has now extended into green energy, in partnership with Belgium’s CMB.TECH, O&L co-founded Cleanergy Solutions Namibia, which launched Africa’s first fully integrated green hydrogen plant at Walvis Bay in 2025.
The venture marks O&L’s boldest diversification yet, positioning it at the centre of Namibia’s energy transition. Backed by EU and German partners, and with expansion plans tied to a potential €3 billion investment pipeline for ammonia production, O&L is anchoring Namibia’s entry into the global hydrogen economy.
