Taking green hydrogen hands
Facts and reality public discussion
The University of Namibia (UNAM) and Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) Alumni Associations, in collaboration with Fortescue Namibia, hosted a panel discussion titled “Green Hydrogen Facts and Reality: Market Trends and Opportunities”, bringing together experts, leaders, and alumni to explore the future of green hydrogen in Namibia.Moderated by journalist Denver Kisting, the panel featured Bernard Moulins (Fortescue Head of Strategy & Commercial), James Mnyupe (Green Hydrogen Commissioner of Namibia), Toni Beukes (Head of ESG at Hyphen Hydrogen Energy Namibia), and Dr Zivayi Chiguvare (Acting Director of the Namibia Green Hydrogen Research Institute). The discussion focused on the prospects, challenges, and economics of the green hydrogen sector, providing a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas on Namibia’s green energy future. Over 500 attendees, including government officials, industry stakeholders, investors, academic researchers, and civil society organizations, participated—making it the largest gathering at the NUST Auditorium to date.
Context
The panel provided key context ahead of the Global African Hydrogen Summit 2024 currently taking place in Windhoek and covered global market perspectives, private sector involvement, industrial transformation, and the viability of large-scale projects. It served as a forum for stakeholders to discuss practical solutions to advance Namibia's green industrial future.
Moulins presented an in-depth analysis of the global green hydrogen market, highlighting emerging trends, demand drivers, and the importance of strategic partnerships in creating value. “We [Fortescue] are driving forward an agenda that is very challenging and innovative because there's a belief that it's going to unlock significant value,” Moulins said, emphasising the need for collaboration among partners, suppliers, developers, off-takers, investors, government, universities, and scientists.
Mnyupe underscored the importance of attracting private sector investment to grow the sector. He emphasized the need for consistent messaging across Namibia to foster a welcoming environment for investors.
Balanced approach
He also addressed strategic land use, advocating for a balanced approach that supports both socioeconomic development and ecological preservation. Additionally, he discussed the Namibian government's efforts to develop a policy on synthetic fuels, drawing lessons from successful models in Mauritania and Egypt. He stressed the need for Namibia to create a competitive environment through legislation and infrastructure to attract new industries.
Beukes highlighted the transformative potential of green hydrogen while emphasizing environmental stewardship. She stressed that the industry could coexist with natural ecosystems if projects are designed with biodiversity considerations. “We [Hyphen Namibia] have already gone into the park and looked at what are the highest, medium, and least sensitive from a biodiversity perspective,” she noted.
Dr Chiguvare concluded by urging Namibians to engage actively in the green hydrogen sector, highlighting the need for local expertise in operating plants. He predicted significant economic benefits from green hydrogen development, including boosts in GDP and living standards, stating, “We want Namibians to be trained and to learn how to operate the [green hydrogen] plants. We want the engineers and technicians to lead.”