President Hage Geingob said Namibia expects to announce concrete outcomes from the intensive offshore oil drilling in 2024.
Geingob dubbed 2024 the Year of Expectations and Elections, and a new beginning for the Namibian House.
“As we look to 2024 and beyond, it is clear that we are entering a year that promises the delivery of tangible outcomes that have been carefully curated throughout 2023,” Geingob said during his New Year’s message.
Although international oil companies announced massive discoveries, about three appraisal wells—Venus-1A, Nara-1A, and Jonker-1A—were drilled in 2023.
In October, petroleum commissioner Maggy Shino said that Namibia should expect the first oil from the recent offshore discoveries by 2030.
Namibia, however, is said to hold an estimated 11 billion barrels of oil reserves from the five major discoveries made since February 2022.
Geingob also said several uranium mines will re-commence operations in 2024.
So far, Paladin Energy’s Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine will return to production in the first quarter of 2024, while Deep Yellow’s Tumas is expected to ramp up production by the fourth quarter of 2024.
According to Geingob, at least three pilot projects in the green hydrogen space should conclude construction activities this year after putting institutions and policies in place.
Namibia also has four ongoing projects besides the Hyphen Hydrogen Energy project, touted as the biggest in sub-Saharan Africa.
These are the Daures, Namport, Cleanergy, and TransNamib projects, with a combined value of N$890 million, set for the Erongo region dubbed Valley 1.
The 1.5-gigawatt Daures project will produce 508 kilograms of green ammonia daily during the first phase, while the Namport project is meant to convert tugboats and equipment to use hydrogen dual fuel technology.
Namport, with partners Cleanergy Solutions Namibia, CMB Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Namport, and Unam, will also develop green hydrogen bunkering and refuelling infrastructure at the port.
The third project, Cleanergy, is a joint venture of CMB.Tech, the Ohlthaver & List Group, and Cleanergy Solutions Namibia. It will have a 5 MW electrolyzer and a hydrogen mobile refueller.
The TransNamib project aims to convert 50 locomotives to run on green hydrogen dual fuel.
Geingob added that the interest in green hydrogen will stimulate other sectors of our economy and new adjacent industries, including logistics, agriculture, and sustainable manufacturing.
“Namibia’s efforts to develop green maritime corridors and to cultivate giant kelp forests, including the production of hot briquetted iron, are but a few examples of adjacent industries that will benefit from our concerted efforts to ensure that Namibia becomes a hub of clean energy and green industries,” Geingob said.
