Andrew Kanime, the CEO of Namport, has shared exciting news regarding the construction of the Luderitz port in southern Namibia. They’re following a three-phase plan in collaboration with Namport, the Port of Rotterdam, and Hyphen, the green hydrogen developer for the Southern Corridor Development Initiative. Recently, they wrapped up stakeholder consultations for the Environmental Impact Assessment, and now they’re gearing up to kick off Phase 1 construction in the fourth quarter of 2024, as Kanime revealed during the EU Namibia Business Forum.
Namport CEO Andrew Kanime has emphasized the potential of the port of Walvis Bay, which stands as the largest commercial port in Namibia. While it has the impressive capability to handle approximately eight million tonnes of hydrogen or ammonia, the key to unleashing this potential lies in the development of storage and processing facilities, along with ammonia conversion plants.
Excitingly, just last week, the European Union pledged one billion euros as part of its Global Gateway initiative to boost the growth of Namibia’s green hydrogen and critical mineral value chain. Part of this commitment involves supporting a forthcoming study aimed at transforming the Port of Walvis Bay into a thriving industrial and logistics hub.
Completion date for construction of Luderitz port in southern Namibia.
Which is expected to be completed by 2028. The ambitious development plan, as outlined by Andrew Kanime, involves three crucial phases. Phase 1 is focused on expanding the existing port infrastructure, providing the necessary space for Hyphen to import construction materials. In Phase 2, a new port facility will be established alongside the existing one, in addition to the creation of a green ammonia export facility. Lastly, Phase 3 is geared towards further increasing the port’s capacity, ensuring it can handle the output from upcoming green hydrogen projects. This multifaceted approach is poised to reshape the landscape of the port, fostering growth and innovation in the green energy sector.
Kanime is keen on positioning Walvis Bay as a pivotal green ammonia bunkering hub, envisioning it as the linchpin in creating a green corridor connecting Namibia with European ports. This strategic move holds the promise of facilitating the efficient transport of green energy resources.
The CEO also shared Insights into their approach to development, emphasizing the importance of public-private partnerships (PPP) in this endeavor. Under this model, the Authority will maintain ownership of the common user infrastructures, allowing for a sustainable and mutually beneficial collaboration between the public and private sectors. This sets the stage for a promising future where Namibia becomes a key player in the green hydrogen and ammonia industry.
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