07 Jul 2024

 There are  prospects to establish a joint mega solar project between Botswana and Namibia.

Namibia Minister of Mines and Energy stated during a press conference he held with his Botswana counterpart in Swakopmund, Thursday that it was important to prioritise energy sources with less harm to the environment and ozone layer.

Mr Tom Alweendo said three years ago, Namibia started to engage with prospective companies to engage in mega-solar power projects.

Mr Alweendo said it made sense for the two countries that were destined and determined to work with each other for a better future, to join resources and invest in a bigger solar project adding that discussions were ongoing to that effect.

Minister of Minerals and Energy, Mr Lefoko Moagi said a Memorandum of Intent was signed with an American company where a joint mega solar project was envisaged to engage the two nations.

Pending realisation of the proposed project, Mr Moagi said individual countries were well aware of the importance of using available resources to produce energy thereby reducing the use of products that were causing harm to the environment.

As such, he said Botswana on its own was engaged in developing solar projects in its quest to promote production and use of green energy. 

“We remain hopeful that the proposed mega projects will in future be realised,” he said. 

Through Power Africa, Namibia and Botswana are to develop a solar project of up to 5 000 megawatts capacity and the power would be exported to other countries in the Southern Africa Region. 

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and his Namibia counterpart, Dr Nangolo Mbumba after concluding the official talks visited Cleanergy Solutions Namibia, a company engaged in the production of green hydrogen in Walvis Bay.  

The company, a joint venture between Ohlthaver and List (O&L) Group and Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB), is engaged in the production of green hydrogen energy.  O&L group director – Innovations, Mr Eike Krafft said Namibia was bound to become a green hydrogen production hub, noting that the country had an abundance of clean energy resource,  solar energy.

He said producing green hydrogen would reduce carbon emissions and drive economic growth. Mr Krafft said first Cleanergy Solutions Namibia was the first project of its kind in Africa and was harnessing solar energy to produce hydrogen.

Additionally, Mr Krafft said the company was responsible for converting trucks to be powered using hydrogen. 

He added that the project was established in Namibia as the abundant of sunshine made it an optimal choice for green hydrogen production. 

Mr Krafft said the production and utilisation of green hydrogen did not emit carbon dioxide therefore, reinforcing its status as a clean and sustainable energy carrier for the future. Ends