Ground has been broken at the N$66 million Nopal Cactus Project, in the southern town of Maltahöhe, which is expected to drive renewable energy production and entrepreneurship in the Hardap region.
Facilitated by Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), the first-of-its-kind Nopal project will focus on bioenergy production, mainly base load peak electricity and renewable liquefied natural gas (LNG).
With this unique project, Namibia is set to be the first country in Africa to extract renewable energy from the cactus plant. The first phase of the project, spanning 500 hectares, represents an investment of approximately N$66 million, with an estimated total investment exceeding N$1.8 billion as bioenergy production scales up.
Beyond economic and environmental benefits, this initiative also aims to empower local communities by converting underutilised desert land into productive farmland.
Nicole Maske, the local partner in the project, said the aim of the Nopal project was to provide the country with renewable energy and at the same time be able to produce renewable LNG.
She said about 5MW of energy would be generated per 800 hectares of the project, while at least 60 jobs will be created in the first phase of the project, which is a big number for a small town like Maltahöhe. The project will also provide livestock fodder and help enhance food security.
The Canadian managing partner of the project, Stephen McNeil, also explained that Nopal project extends beyond energy and agriculture.
The project is seen as a game-changer for economic diversification, ensuring sustainability and new opportunities for Namibian entrepreneurs to take up opportunities in value-added products such as jams, syrups, sauces, salads, cactus seed oil and livestock fodder.
“Our vision is clear, we want to be part of the renewable new energy programs. There are about a billion people worldwide without power, and 700 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa without power. If we can’t keep up now, what is going to happen in the future when we add 2 billion people to the world’s population?” he asked.
McNeil said the cactus brings many benefits – it serves as great feedstock for bioenergy, ferments quickly, and turns into biogas, which contains methane and CO₂.
“You can extract the CO₂, and the methane can then be used to generate electricity or be converted into liquefied natural gas,” he said.
Vice President and President-elect, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, in a statement delivered on her behalf, said: “With Nopal-derived biogas, we are unlocking a renewable energy source that will provide stable and sustainable baseload electricity, thereby reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, enhancing our energy security, and positioning Namibia as a leader in the global clean energy revolution.”
“As the world grapples with the pressing challenges of climate change, drought, and food insecurity, Namibia is taking the lead in developing renewable energy solutions,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
