Southern African neighbours, Namibia and South Africa, are collaborating on a ground-breaking initiative to develop Africa’s first green hydrogen pipeline.
The partnership was first revealed by Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba during the World Hydrogen Summit 2024 held in May in the Netherlands, where Namibia’s Green Hydrogen Program signed a Memorandum of Understanding with key stakeholders.
The partnership includes the Western Cape Development Agency (Wesgro) and the Northern Cape Economic Development, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (NCEDA) from South Africa, along with Gasunie, a leading Dutch hydrogen infrastructure developer.
It aims to study the feasibility of building Africa’s first cross-country green hydrogen pipeline, connecting Namibia and South Africa and facilitating significant trade of a new product between the two countries.
Namibia currently hosts nine hydrogen projects across two burgeoning hydrogen valleys, with potential for a third linked to its iron ore sector, while South Africa boasts its own extensive national green hydrogen program.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa proposed a possible hydrogen partnership with Namibia way back in October 2020, as South Africa, like Namibia, also planned to become a major exporter of green hydrogen.
“Namibia, like many African countries, views the 21st Century as a potentially transformative era for the continent, in which we can utilise new, greener and cleaner technologies to leapfrog towards industrialisation and subsequent economic transformation.
“This will enable us to create jobs, greatly reduce poverty and build inclusive, peaceful and stable societies that will give rise to genuine and lasting progress. In this regard, the Namibian government, together with national and international stakeholders, is spearheading efforts to unlock the massive potential of green hydrogen,” President Mbumba said.
The first phase of the partnership between Namibia and South Africa will focus on the pipeline segment between Lüderitz, in southern Namibia, and Saldanha in the Northern Cape in South Africa. This phase will set the foundation for future expansions, which include extending the pipeline to the Erongo region in Namibia and the Western Cape in South Africa.
Namibia’s Mines and Energy Minister Tom Alweendo said the joint feasibility study will evaluate the project’s technical, commercial, environmental and social viability with an emphasis on environmental, social and governance best practices.
“If successful, this pipeline could be the first intra-country hydrogen backbone in Africa, paving the way for the trade of more complex products in southern Africa. This is a key step we are taking as we look to unleash the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement and realise the ideals of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want,” Alweendo said.
The Mines and Energy Minister said the project holds immense potential for advancing green hydrogen technology, fostering sustainable development in southern Africa, and propelling the region towards a greener and more prosperous future.
Namibia aims to establish itself as a logistics hub for Southern Africa through initiatives like an ammonia bunkering hub and a green hydrogen-powered train.
Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme Commissioner James Mnyupe said the pipeline project will offer cutting-edge research for the Namibian government.
“The project holds the promise of not only advancing green hydrogen technology but also significantly contributing to the sustainable development and industrialisation of the region,” Mnyupe said.
The development of the 2,500km cross-border pipeline from Lüderitz to Saldanha will cost approximately N$352.6 billion (€20 billion), according to Mnyupe.
South Africa last year unveiled a N$300 billion (US$20 billion) investment pipeline under a Green Hydrogen National Programme, which has been designated as a Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) for accelerated development under the country’s Infrastructure Development Act.
The country reportedly has the potential to produce up to 13 million tonnes of green hydrogen and derivatives a year by 2050 but to do so would require between 140GW and 300GW of renewable energy, which would represent a massive scale-up in a context where South Africa had procured only about 7GW of wind and solar since 2011.
