22 Oct 2024
Cleanergy Solutions Namibia, a joint venture between O&L Group and CMB.TECH, is set to produce green hydrogen locally by early 2025 after delays in key equipment delivery.
Cleanergy Solutions Namibia is set to begin local green hydrogen production early next year, following the expected delivery of the final piece of equipment by the end of 2024, a company official said.
The venture, a joint initiative between the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group and Belgian shipping firm Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB) through its CMB.TECH unit, has faced delays in acquiring critical components, particularly the electrolysers needed for hydrogen production.
“We will be producing [hydrogen] from early next year. The last bit of equipment arrives at the end of the year,” said Eike Krafft, a member of Cleanergy’s development committee. “We have some time in the New Year to commission it, then we can produce local hydrogen.”
Krafft added that once all the equipment is installed, the hydrogen plant will be commissioned in early 2025. The electrolyser, ordered in 2022, is essential for converting renewable energy into hydrogen. While part of the system has already arrived, the remaining components are expected by year-end.
In the meantime, Cleanergy has launched a mobile refueller to transport hydrogen to locations that cannot access the production facility directly. The company is also in talks with the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) and European firms about using hydrogen for shipping, aviation, and heavy-duty transportation.
“We have the ability with our mobile refueller to take hydrogen to the port or to transport it wherever there’s an application,” Krafft said.
The initial phase of the project, which represents an investment of just under €30 million (approximately N$600 million), is partially funded by the German government through its Ministry for Research and Integration.
“The investment has been just under €30 million, equivalent to about N$600 million,” Krafft noted.
Krafft also highlighted that the commercial production of hydrogen, alongside an ammonia factory, represents a major development valued at around N$190 billion (N$10 billion). The project will enable Cleanergy to refuel large ships docking at Walvis Bay, a key stop on the maritime route around southern Africa.
Compagnie Maritime Belge, founded in 1895 and controlled by the Saverys family, is expanding outside of Belgium for the first time with this initiative. The company's existing facility in Belgium is significantly smaller than the one being developed in Namibia.
The global shift toward green hydrogen, which is seen as a critical component of decarbonizing industries and supporting sustainable energy transitions, has driven demand for such projects.
Cleanergy also revealed plans to build a N$4-billion (€230 million) ammonia terminal in Namibia, with completion targeted by 2028. This initiative is part of a broader strategy for green hydrogen and ammonia production, with the second phase of the project expected to begin around 2030.
“We are currently building an ammonia terminal, which we hope to complete by 2026, although it may extend to 2027 or 2028,” said Krafft.
The company has engaged in extensive community consultations and has received environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism. Specialized studies are still ongoing, and final permitting is expected by March next year.
The total costs for Cleanergy’s hydrogen and ammonia production plants could reach €10 billion, according to Krafft.
The Namibian Ports Authority and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges International have also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on green energy solutions and the establishment of a green hydrogen supply chain between the two ports.
Cleanergy Solutions Namibia, established by O&L and CMB.TECH Group, is using solar energy to produce hydrogen at a facility in Walvis Bay. The plant will supply hydrogen for trucks, port equipment, and rail applications. Additionally, a Hydrogen Academy will be set up to train locals in hydrogen technology.
The project includes a 10-hectare solar park equipped with a 5-megawatt electrolyser and a 5-megawatt-hour battery, producing hydrogen to be used at a public refuelling station for heavy-duty applications.