Namibia to partner with US on green hydrogen

Mines minister Tom Alweendo has been instructed to authorise an agreement between Namibia and the United States to advance a collaborative effort to build green hydrogen industries between the two countries.

This follows a Cabinet decision taken recently by the government to accelerate efforts to become a major player in the green hydrogen space.

"Cabinet approved the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation on renewable energy, clean energy and hydrogen between Namibia and the United States of America and has authorised the minister of mines and energy to sign the said MOU," information minister Emma Theofelus said of the decision taken this week.

As part of its efforts to advance its green hydrogen agenda, the US department of energy (DOE) has identified green hydrogen as a key technology to decarbonise sectors like steel, ammonia, energy storage and heavy-duty transport. "Clean hydrogen is crucial to DOE’s strategy for achieving president Joe Biden’s goal of a 100% clean electrical grid by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The goal of the government is to reduce the cost of production to US$1 per one kilogram of green hydrogen in one decade," it said.