In a significant stride toward sustainable energy solutions, Namibia and the Port of Antwerp Bruges have joined hands to develop a ground-breaking hydrogen and ammonia storage and export facility at the Port of Walvis Bay. With an estimated investment of €250 million ($267 million), this initiative marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing collaboration between Namibia’s ports authority and the Belgium port complex.
This ambitious project stems from a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in June 2022 between Namport and its European partners. The MoU aimed to explore collaborative opportunities and discuss the potential for long-term cooperation. Now, this partnership is set to propel Namibia’s burgeoning green energy sector and complement its industrial logistical hub development plans.
According to Bloomberg reports, the facility, jointly owned by the Port of Antwerp and the Namibian Ports Authority, will be constructed within three to five years at a Greenfield site adjacent to the existing port infrastructure, which includes a container terminal. Talks are underway for a unit of the Mediterranean Shipping Company in South Africa to operate the facility.
The facility’s main purpose is to store and move hydrogen and ammonia, with output coming from businesses like Belgium’s Cie Maritime Belge SA. These green molecules will have several uses, such as providing ammonia to heavy industry clusters in Belgium, Germany, and other regions of Europe and refueling ships that pass through the port. These sectors are looking for ways to cut carbon emissions; they are not ready to switch entirely to renewable energy sources just yet.
Namport and Port of Antwerp envision Namibia as a production hub for green molecules, with the Port of Antwerp Bruges acting as a gateway to the European market. This strategic collaboration addresses the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions and underscores the importance of international partnerships in achieving climate goals.
Highlighting the significance of the project, Antwerp port CEO Jacques Vandermeiren emphasized the need for alternatives to electrification in certain industrial processes. He noted that while renewable electricity is vital, it cannot fully replace other energy sources in some industries.
The firms also announced the launch of Africa’s first hydrogen-powered ship, a tugboat, at the port, which is a tremendous feat. This accomplishment demonstrates both parties’ dedication to using green technologies and establishing new benchmarks for maritime operations.
The CEO of Namport, Andrew Kanime, praised the initiative and called it a significant step toward “greening” Namibia’s ports. Through this program, Namibia is positioned as a major actor in the worldwide shift to renewable energy sources while simultaneously advancing environmental sustainability.
The partnership between Namibia and the Port of Antwerp Bruges exemplifies the strength of international cooperation in promoting sustainable development at a time when the world is looking for novel ways to tackle climate change. Initiatives such as the ammonia and hydrogen storage facilities, if funded and committed to, have the potential to make everyone’s future more robust and environmentally friendly.
