Namibia proposes Africa-wide green industrialisation centre
Justicia Shipena
Namibia plans to establish an institute within six months to support African governments and companies in identifying and benefiting from green industrialisation opportunities.
The institute called the African Sustainable Industrialisation Institute will be headquartered in Namibia.
Green hydrogen commissioner James Mnyupe revealed this during the Namibia Parliamentary Green Investment Dialogue held in Walvis Bay over the weekend.
“This will be a continental centre of excellence, headquartered in Namibia but tasked with helping African governments and companies understand and exploit the opportunities pre-created by green industrialization,” Mnyupe said.
He said the institute will have two arms. One will focus on policy development, working with governments and parliamentarians to help develop strong policies that make African countries globally competitive.
“We will help with policy development, working closely with governments and parliamentarians to put together strong policies that will make African countries competitive relative to a global basis,” he said.
The second arm will focus on mobilising strategic capital to implement industrial clusters that can drive economic transformation across the continent.
“If we succeed in helping you establish these policies, we would like to mobilise strategic capital to enable you to deliver industrial clusters that will bring economic emancipation and pride to all of us here on the continent,” Mnyupe said.
He said the deputy prime minister, prime minister, and the Green Hydrogen Council will discuss the concept.
He stressed the need for support from Parliament and Cabinet to move the project forward over the next six months.
Mnyupe also highlighted Namibia’s recent progress in securing international green funding.
Last year, the Green Hydrogen Program, working with the Ministry of Finance and other government entities, applied to the Climate Investment Funds’ (CIF) Industry Decarbonisation Programme.
Namibia ranked third globally in the application process.
The plan is to deploy up to US$250 million of concessional capital from the CIF, which would be combined with funding from other multilateral development banks.
The capital would support national projects focused on green fertiliser production, green shipping, rare earth processing, and lithium processing.
It would also help establish a green industrial zone, an initiative being developed by the Environmental Investment Fund in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Mitigation Action Facility.
“We do think that the lessons we have learnt here in Namibia are replicable, and they can be shared with the rest of us on the continent to help us come up with an economic outcome that we can all be proud of,” Mnyupe said.
The dialogue was held under the theme “Green Energy Zones and Corridors: An Economic Opportunity in a Warming World” and was hosted by the Climate Parliament and UNIDO with support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which organised the event as part of the Parliamentarians for Climate Finance project.
The project supports MPs in 15 African countries by mobilising climate finance for renewable energy and green industry.
MPs from Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe attended the event.
The dialogue also brought together financial experts, investors, and guarantors with lawmakers to share insights and strengthen collaboration.
At the same event, deputy prime minister and minister of industry, mines and energy Natangwe Ithete called on lawmakers and development partners to support Namibia’s green transition.
“It is a great honour to address you today at this important Parliamentary Dialogue on Green Investment. This dialogue is not only timely but necessary, as we gather to reflect on our shared responsibility to transition Namibia and the world towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy that is inclusive, competitive, and sustainable,” he said.
Ithete noted that Namibia had just signed on to the Global Biofuels Alliance, showing its commitment to reducing emissions.
He pointed to the country’s progress in green hydrogen, with large-scale projects underway in the Tsau //Khaeb National Park, supported by international partnerships.
The Green Hydrogen Scholarship Programme, he said, is building the local skills needed to sustain the industry.
“We are investing in ensuring that infrastructure, investment, and innovation are matched by skilled local talent and that current efforts are carried on by future generations,” he said.
Ithete also highlighted the SDG Namibia One investment platform launched with development partners to support blended financing for green projects.
Namibia has doubled its renewable energy capacity in the past five years. The 30 MW Omburu Solar Plant and the planned electrification of rural schools and health facilities using solar PV are part of efforts to link clean energy with human development.
He said Parliament must create the legal environment needed to attract green investment, drive job creation, and protect the environment.
“Namibia’s green energy journey is not just a climate strategy — it is a national development necessity. We are not waiting to act. We are building the infrastructure, partnerships, institutions, and ecosystems necessary to thrive in a carbon-constrained future,” he said.
National Assembly deputy speaker Phillipus Katamelo called on African leaders and policymakers to work together and share knowledge.
He said Africa’s development must be driven by collaboration and long-term planning.
Caption
Participants of the Climate Parliament Dialogue which was held in Walvis Bay over the weekend, pose for a group photo with deputy prime minister Natangwe Ithete (front row, centre) and green hydrogen commissioner James Mnyupe (front row).
