How Namibia plans to ditch imported electricity for clean energy
Namibia says it wants to produce most of its own electricity by the end of 2030 and reduce its dependence on neighbouring countries.
The government has set a target to meet 80% of the country’s electricity needs through local generation by the time frame, with a focus on clean energy sources.
John Titus, director of energy in the Ministry of Mines and Energy, said Namibia currently imports about half of its power from countries such as South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
He made the announcement during a green hydrogen conference in Windhoek attended by Namibian and German officials, researchers, and industry partners.
According to him, the country’s energy strategy is centred on renewable power, particularly wind energy and green hydrogen.
Namibia also plans to export products made from green hydrogen, such as green ammonia and fertiliser, through major projects like the Hyphen scheme.
“We don’t just want to stop at producing green hydrogen, we aim to turn it into green ammonia and green fertiliser. That’s what drives this project forward,” he was quoted by the New Era.
Traditional leader Chief Sakarias Seibeb praised the impact of the green hydrogen initiative on his community in the desert.
He said residents now have better access to water and jobs, and that small businesses and farming projects have begun to grow.
He also called on young people to take advantage of training and employment by staying away from drugs and alcohol.
The two-day Namibia-Germany Green Hydrogen Research and Development Conference aimed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries as Namibia pushes forward with clean energy plans and prepares to become a global exporter of green fuel.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
