Green iron for the people – Musheko

Spokesperson for the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme Jona Musheko stated that the administration of the HyIron Oshivelo Green Hydrogen Plant advocates for adding value to the country’s mineral and human resources.

The N$600-million HyIron Oshivela green hydrogen plant was inaugurated by president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah near Arandis in the Erongo region on Friday.

“This now speaks to local content and capturing. Local content means that in setting up all these projects, including the HyIron Oshivelo green hydrogen plant, we need to consider how much of that should be spent locally on our small and medium enterprises, on our people?” he said.

Speaking to Desert FM on Monday, Musheko said that some of the companies that were involved in the construction of the plant are Namibian, including companies dealing with transportation, logistics and solar installations.

According to Musheko, the Oshivela plant will produce direct reduced iron ore, which is eventually traded with countries like South Africa, or to companies such as Toyota that want to make green vehicles that they can export eventually to the European markets.

On 11 April, HyIron celebrated Africa’s – and possibly the world’s – first 100% green iron factory, producing 15 000 tonnes of direct reduced iron annually using green hydrogen from a 25-megawatt solar array and 12-megawatt electrolysers.

With Namibia’s low electricity costs, green hydrogen in the country costs under 2 euro (about N$44) per kilogram, compared to 5 to 9 euros (about N$109 to 197) in Germany by 2030, signaling a global industrial shift.

Musheko said that the global trade of green iron brings foreign exchange to Namibia.

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

At the inauguration, president Nandi-Ndeitwah 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.