The European Commission will support the development of the Namibian green hydrogen industry with three EU-funded programmes worth €53.9m ($59.7m).

Up to €50m has been earmarked to support Namibian and South African green hydrogen investment funds, expected to advance production, transportation and storage, as well as downstream industries.

Together with Germany, the EU will fund the EU-Get.transform programme with €2.7m, to support the Ministry of Mines and Energy on energy planning and expand Namibia’s renewable generation capacity.

Finally, the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme has secured €1.2m to “ensure that the green hydrogen sector is steered and regulated by an effective support mechanism,” according to European Commissioner, Kadri Simson.

Simson added, “The EU wants to help Namibia drive its green industrialisation, achieve energy security and increase prosperity for its citizens as envisioned under the Harambee Prosperity Plan and Vision 2030.

“Namibia’s green industrialisation is a plan made by Namibians for Namibians. Team Europe is honoured to be chosen as your partner on this journey.”

In March (2024), Germany recognised Hyphen Hydrogen Energy’s two million tonne-per-year Namibian ammonia production project as a “strategic foreign project”.

Read more: Hyphen’s Namibian hydrogen venture as a ‘strategic foreign project’ by Germany

This means that Hyphen, the Enertrag and Nicholas Holdings Limited joint venture (JV), could secure energy supplies, expand trade relationships, promote sustainable development and enhance security cooperation.