Namibia's Big Plan for Clean Energy

A remote desert in Namibia is the center of a huge plan to make clean fuel for the world. This fuel creates no pollution and could help stop global warming. The project might bring major jobs to a country with very high unemployment. However, the plan threatens a fragile desert ecosystem. This area has rare plants and critically endangered African penguins. This conflict shows the difficult choices Namibia faces. The country wants to become a major exporter of green hydrogen.

Hydrogen is a gas that burns easily. When it burns, it releases only heat and water. It is needed for making steel and fertilizer. Usually, factories make hydrogen using fossil fuels. This old way creates dangerous greenhouse gases. Green hydrogen is made differently. It uses electricity from the sun and wind to split water. This creates clean fuel. But it only works if the energy is truly green.

Namibia has strong sunshine and steady winds. Developers say the country can make the power needed. A group called Hyphen leads this project. It is a joint effort with a German company. The Namibian government owns a small part of the deal. The first phase will make 3.75 gigawatts of electricity. This power could light hundreds of millions of bulbs. Machines called electrolysers will use this energy to make hydrogen. The total cost could be over ten billion dollars. This is a huge amount for a country with a small economy.

The main conflict is about where to build the factories. Hyphen plans to build solar panels and wind turbines inside the Tsau ǁKhaeb National Park. This park covers 26,000 square kilometers. It was once called the Restricted Area. German colonial rulers sealed it off long ago after finding diamonds. The isolation allowed a unique ecosystem to grow.

The Namibian Chamber of the Environment warns that nature is in danger. The dry land supports many special succulent plants. These plants have clever ways to store water and reflect light. A critical report suggested calling the project 'red hydrogen.' The group argues the plan risks pushing species onto the endangered list.

Chris Brown leads the environmental group. He accuses countries like Germany of double standards. He says Germans would never allow their top parks to be industrial sites. He believes they are moving the risks to Namibia. Brown says this is totally unacceptable to his people.

Other worries focus on the coastal waters. The nearby ocean is a protected area for marine life. It is home to the critically endangered African penguin. The project needs to expand the port at Lüderitz. This town is usually a quiet fishing village. The expansion is needed to ship the hydrogen away. The gas will be turned into ammonia. This makes it easier to transport by ship.

Neil Shaw works for a group that saves seabirds. His office is near a lagoon visited by flamingos. He says the construction zone is very sensitive. Shaw warns that building a port and adding ships can hurt the ocean. The penguins and other birds need this ecosystem to survive.

Supporters say the economic benefits are huge and urgent. Namibia's youth unemployment rate is 44 percent. Hyphen estimates the project will create 15,000 jobs during construction. There will be 3,000 permanent jobs later. The former mayor of Lüderitz sees new interest in the town. He says the development will bring new services and opportunities. He believes it will unlock the region and bring prosperity.

Toni Beukes manages the environmental side of the company. She says the team is doing many safety checks. She promises to hire Namibians and avoid the most sensitive areas. She defends the location. She says the south has the best wind and sun resources. Namibia must compete with other projects globally to succeed.

Some activists say development must respect the painful past. Local leader Luciel Adams points to Shark Island. It is near Lüderitz and might get new infrastructure. Between 1904 and 1908, it was a concentration camp. Thousands of Nama and Herero people died there in a genocide. Adams says the history is raw and hurtful. People's identity is tied to that land.

There is also worry about fair benefits. Junior Mutaleni, a youth activist, notes that meetings lack detail. He asks for specific job types and requirements. He wants the community to prepare. Graham Hopwood says community involvement is non-negotiable. The people of Lüderitz need to help make decisions.

While the big Hyphen project waits for a final decision in 2026, smaller efforts are already happening. One example is the HyIron plant. It uses hydrogen to make pure iron for steel. This works without fossil fuels and shows the technology is real.

The debate in Namibia shows a global problem. The world needs clean energy to fight climate change. It also needs to protect unique ecosystems. It must ensure fair benefits for local people. In Lüderitz, opinions are divided. Some leaders want economic revival and trust the town can adapt. Others say the environmental costs are too high. Namibia's choice will affect the world. It will test the principles of a just energy transition for the future.