As the world debates sustainable development beyond 2030, many Africans ask: transition from what, and to what? For Europe, the green transition is understandably framed through decarbonisation, energy security and industrial competitiveness. For Namibia, and much of Africa, it remains a transition from exclusion to participation, and from resources to prosperity.
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Windhoek, Namibia – 13 April 2026 – Hyphen Hydrogen Energy (Hyphen), in partnership with Enertrag and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), will sign a cooperation agreement under the International Hydrogen Ramp-up Programme (H2UPPP), aimed at strengthening Namibian supplier capacity and participation in the emerging green hydrogen sector.
The agreement will be formalised at a signing ceremony to be held at Hyphen’s offices in Windhoek on Monday, 13 April 2026. The event will bring together representatives from the Government of the Republic of Namibia (GRN), German cooperation partners, industry stakeholders, and development institutions.
Hyphen has secured grant funding of up to EUR 300,000 from the H2UPPP programme, which will be matched by an additional EUR 300,000 from Hyphen. This co-funded Public-Private Partnership (PPP) will support the implementation of a targeted Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Programme designed to build the capability, competitiveness, and readiness of Namibian enterprises to participate in the green hydrogen value chain.
As the only green hydrogen project in Namibia structured as a Public-Private Partnership with direct GRN participation (24%), Hyphen is uniquely positioned to align project development with national industrialisation objectives. The ESD programme forms part of Hyphen’s broader Socio-Economic Development (SED) commitments under the Feasibility and Implementation Agreement (FIA) and reflects a deliberate ecosystem development approach. The funding secured through this partnership goes to the heart of that approach, supporting not only Hyphen’s immediate supply chain needs but positioning the project as a catalyst for the broader Southern Corridor Development Initiative (SCDI) and the development of Namibia’s green industrial sector as a whole.
The Hyphen project’s scale and complexity will help accelerate a resilient, self-sustaining local supply chain, enabling Namibian businesses to capture long-term value from the global energy transition.
Mr. I-Ben Natangwe Nashandi, Executive Director of the National Planning Commission (NPC) in his speech delivered on behalf of the Director General of the National Planning Commission, Ambassador Dr. Kaire Mbuende said;
“Green hydrogen is a strategic pillar for Namibia to drive industrialisation and lead in the global low-carbon economy. By prioritising local content and beneficiation, we are transforming from a commodity exporter into a value-driven industrial powerhouse, ensuring energy sovereignty and broad-based prosperity for all Namibians.
Marco Raffinetti, CEO of Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, said: “This partnership reflects our commitment to ensuring that Namibian businesses are not only included, but are meaningfully positioned to participate in and benefit from the green hydrogen economy. We are deliberately building an ecosystem that extends beyond our project, to support long-term industrial growth in Namibia.”
Tobias Gerster, Country Director of GIZ Namibia, added: “Through the H2UPPP, we are supporting practical partnerships that translate Namibia’s green hydrogen ambition into tangible economic opportunities. This initiative demonstrates how targeted collaboration between public and private partners can strengthen local capabilities and contribute to sustainable industrial development.”
The signing of this agreement underscores the continued collaboration between Namibia and Germany in advancing green hydrogen development and highlights the importance of aligning public and private sector efforts to unlock inclusive economic opportunities at scale.
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About Hyphen
Hyphen Hydrogen Energy (Pty) Ltd is a Namibian registered green hydrogen development company, which has won the rights through a public tender to develop Namibia’s first large scale green hydrogen project on GRN owned land. Hyphen is a joint venture between ENERTRAG SE and Nicholas Holdings Limited. The Government of the Republic of Namibia holds a 24% shareholding in Hyphen via its blended finance company SDG Namibia One.
Hyphen’s project is being developed as the first step in the implementation of the Government’s strategy for the development of a large-scale green hydrogen industry in various regions in Namibia to support both economic growth in Namibia and assist the world in achieving its decarbonisation goals. At full scale development, the project will produce 2 million tonnes of green ammonia annually for regional and global markets, from
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As the world debates sustainable development beyond 2030, many Africans ask: transition from what, and to what? For Europe, the green transition is understandably framed through decarbonisation, energy security and industrial competitiveness. For Namibia, and much of Africa, it remains a transition from exclusion to participation, and from resources to prosperity.
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Three years ago, Namibia was being talked about as the next great green energy frontier. A sparsely populated country with world-class sun and wind poised to become a green hydrogen superpower. Since then, the mood has cooled. Financial close on large-scale projects is taking longer, due to slower market demand ramp-up and geopolitical headwinds. Has the opportunity come and gone for Namibia?
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