Cleanergy Solutions Namibia has taken the lead in developing green hydrogen and green ammonia facilities in the Erongo region.
Leveraging its strategic partnership – the expertise in renewable energy of Ohlthaver & List and the extensive knowledge in hydrogen and ammonia of CMB.TECH, Cleanergy is dedicated to pioneering sustainable solutions that will generate significant, measurable value for Namibia and its people.
Recently, Cleanergy Solutions Namibia announced its plans to construct a N$50 billion large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia production facility at Arandis. The facility, to be developed on 2 400 hectares of land, will host a 900 megawatts solar power and 500 megawatts of electrolyser capacity, producing an estimated 200 000 tonnes of ammonia annually.
Arandis Town Council CEO Stanley Norris said that council has approved the land and strategic framework for the hydrogen plant and anticipates significant economic and industrial transformation.
“This means a shift from light to heavy industry for Arandis, powered primarily by solar energy. We are finalising contracts in phased developments and have already received N$20 million to service one of our residential extensions to support incoming workers and businesses,” Norris said.
“There will be up-scaling from industry to heavy industry. The primary commodity that will be used to upscale is sunlight because Arandis has solar radiation most of the year and for a hybrid application – that is solar and other energy – Arandis is conducive as it can produce about 92% energy production,” said Norris.
Common user infrastructure will include pipelines and storage tanks for water, hydrogen, ammonia and other deviates. This covers port, railway, road and power infrastructure and may include handling and storage facilities.
The Arandis Town Council approved the project in 2024. The construction phase of the project is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026, while operations will begin in 2030.
Addressing a high-level stakeholder’s conference at Walvis Bay, Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Evelyn Nawases-Taeyele, praised Namibia’s progress towards establishing itself as a hydrogen pioneer through O&L’s partnership with Belgian firm CMB.TECH.
The collaboration has already seen the launch of the Cleanergy Solutions’ pilot hydrogen project outside Walvis Bay focusing on hydrogen production for maritime transport applications. The pilot site, referred to as Hydrogen Dune, is Namibia’s first complete hydrogen production and refuelling facility, valued at approximately N$600 million, with partial funding from the German Ministry for Education and Research.
The Arandis ammonia bunkering terminal will yield 700 jobs which will include 85 permanent staff.
The Deputy Minister said that the project will also be crucial for developing technical skills necessary for the future industries.
“It is my strong belief that together, we have a great chance to build a legacy that resonates through generations to come,” she said.
Cleanergy Solutions Managing Director, Eike Krafft, said the Walvis Bay facility uses solar energy and battery storage to produce hydrogen through electrolysis, and includes storage tanks, a mobile refueller, and Namibia’s first hydrogen academy.
“We are already testing a variety of applications, including hydrogen-powered trucks, generators, tractors, and a soon-to-arrive hydrogen locomotive. We are also developing a multi-purpose port utility vessel and a 55 000-tonne ammonia storage terminal at Walvis Bay,” Krafft said.
Cleanergy Solutions Namibia envisions a future, within the next decade, where Namibia stands as a global leader in clean energy innovation, with green hydrogen production at its core.
Namibia’s clean energy landscape will be characterised by state-of-the-art facilities, widespread carbon emissions reduction and robust economic prosperity, driven by the company’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and strategic partnerships. This transformation will not only empower Namibians but also inspire the world to accelerate its transition towards sustainable energy sources.
