Namibia and South Africa are set to explore the feasibility of building Africa's first pipeline dedicated to transporting green hydrogen, according to a presidential announcement at the 2024 World Hydrogen Summit.

As reported by Informante on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, President Nangolo Mbumba revealed a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wesgro, Northern Cape Economic Development, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (NCEDA) and Gasunie.

This agreement paves the way for a joint study to assess the practicality and potential benefits of a Namibia-South Africa green hydrogen pipeline.

With green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy sources, is seen as a promising clean fuel alternative, President Mbumba emphasized the project's potential to strengthen regional and international partnerships.

"This initiative aims to boost trade and cooperation between Namibia and South Africa," he said.

Beyond the pipeline, Namibia is also developing a green hydrogen-powered train and an ammonia bunkering hub in Walvis Bay. These projects, according to the president, aim to decarbonize regional logistics and enhance the competitiveness of Namibian ports.

President Mbumba highlighted the broader vision of Namibia's green hydrogen ambitions. "Our green industrialization blueprint showcases how green hydrogen can add value to minerals found in Namibia and across Africa," he said.

One target application is green direct reduced iron, a low-carbon steelmaking ingredient that could significantly reduce emissions in a sector responsible for over 8% of global pollution.