President opens first ‘green iron’ plant in southern Africa

Namibia has inaugurated southern Africa’s first zero-emissions iron plant, marking a milestone in green hydrogen development, industrialisation, and international collaboration.

The opening of the N$600-million HyIron Oshivela Green Hydrogen Plant is the culmination of strategic investments, home-grown innovation, and global collaboration.

This was said by president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah when she officially opened the plant near Arandis in the Erongo region on Friday.

The plant is the first facility in southern Africa dedicated to zero-emission iron production.

“This is the first official inauguration since assuming office, and I stand before you with excitement to inaugurate this ground-breaking facility, which solidifies the unwavering commitment and shared vision of the HyIron project,” she said.

The president highlighted the project’s importance, not only as a pioneering initiative in green hydrogen technology, but also for its ambition to achieve zero-emission iron production.

This, she emphasised, is closely aligned with Namibia’s development priorities, particularly in value addition, natural resource beneficiation, and industrialisation.

“As the minister of international relations and cooperation, I met many potential investors, and I am still waiting to see the real maturity of some of those investments. Congratulations, HyIron Oshivela team,” she said.

The president assured potential investors that Namibia is ready for business for the mutual benefit of investors and Namibians.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said the government aims to create a conducive environment for both local and foreign investors.

“The Oshivela Green Iron plant stands as a proud Namibian achievement and reflects notable synergies between Namibia and its international partners.

“It is the culmination of strategic investments, home-grown innovation, and global collaboration involving various companies around the globe, where components and/or parts of the plant were supplied from the European Union, the United States, China, Japan and Great Britain,” she said.

“Therefore, I call upon other investors to follow and emulate the exemplary path of HyIron. Our country’s competitive advantages in terms of investment are there for every investor to see,” she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia’s continuous pledge to peace, political stability, and adherence to the rule of law is a prerequisite for investment, provided investors respect the country’s clarion call for local beneficiation.

She emphasised that a project like Oshivela is important for job creation, since about 400 direct jobs were created during the construction phase, while the company provided 50 direct and 50 indirect jobs during the first maintenance phase of the project, of which 90% went to the youth.

Deputy prime minister and minister of mines, energy and industry Natangwe Ithete says Namibia has now gained a competitive edge in the global market by investing in the energy sector.

“Clean energy is now becoming a key advantage, Countries around the world are beginning to favour goods made with renewable energy, and by producing such goods our country can stay ahead of the international regulations and gain a competitive edge in global markets,” Ithete says.

He says the HyIron Oshivela project is a perfect example of strategy in action, which represents a new wave of industrial development where businesses are investing in Namibia to leverage its abundant clean energy resources.

Ambassador of the European Union (EU) delegation to Namibia Ana-Beatriz Martins says this milestone in Namibia’s green transition is a shining example of the enduring partnership between Namibia, the EU, and its member states, in particular Germany.

“It was in October 2022 that the late president Hage Geingob and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen signed an agreement to establish a strategic partnership on green hydrogen and critical raw materials value chains.

“Less than three years on, we are celebrating one of the tangible results of the EU-Namibia partnership, a partnership that works,” she says.

The ambassador says HyIron is a global pioneer that harnessed German technology for a new product and involved over 60 Namibian small and medium-sized enterprises and over 400 Namibian workers.