Namibia hydrogen project raises environmental concerns

Conservation groups have warned that a planned green hydrogen project in southern Namibia could threaten biodiversity in a protected coastal park, as reported by BBC News and agencies on March 12th.

The project is led by the Hyphen consortium, a joint venture backed by the German renewable energy company Enertrag. It plans to build solar and wind facilities in Tsau ǁKhaeb National Park near the port town of Lüderitz.

Namibia hopes the development will support its plans to become a major exporter of green hydrogen, a fuel produced using renewable energy.

Environmental groups said the project could affect ecosystems in the 26,000-square-kilometre park. The Namibian Chamber of the Environment said rare plant and animal species could be at risk if large-scale energy infrastructure is built in the area.

The organisation said the development should be considered “red hydrogen” rather than green because of its potential environmental impact.

Chris Brown, head of the Namibian Chamber of the Environment, said industrialised countries supporting hydrogen production in Namibia were applying a double standard.

“The Germans would never allow their top parks to be turned into industrial sites,” Brown said, referring to Germany’s support for green hydrogen projects. “But they appear willing to offshore the environmental risks to Namibia.”

The park forms part of the Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area, a 400-kilometre stretch of coastline that includes breeding areas for African penguins. Scientists have warned that the species could disappear in the wild by 2035.

The Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds said planned port expansion near Lüderitz could affect marine ecosystems used by penguins and other coastal birds.

Hyphen said it is conducting environmental assessments and intends to avoid sensitive ecological sites. The company said southern Namibia offers some of the world’s strongest wind and solar resources, which are needed for competitive hydrogen production.

The Namibian government holds a 24% stake in the project. Hyphen aims to produce one million tonnes of hydrogen-derived ammonia annually by the end of 2028.

The investment could exceed $10 billion, making it one of the largest infrastructure projects in Namibia. The final decision on the project is expected by the end of 2026.

BBC News and agencies, Maghrebi.org