Staff Reporter
THE Daures Green Hydrogen Village is making progress towards producing Namibia’s first carbon-free ammonium sulphate fertiliser using green hydrogen technology, with government and international partners reviewing the project’s development one year after it received support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Ruthy Masake joined representatives from UNIDO, the United Kingdom Government and other stakeholders at the Daures Green Hydrogen Village in the Erongo Region for a project review session aimed at assessing implementation progress and strengthening partnerships.
The initiative received support through UNIDO’s Accelerate-to-Demonstrate (A2D) facility and aims to demonstrate how renewable energy can be integrated with agriculture, water security, skills development and local enterprise development.
Photos: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water & Land Reform
Masake said the project represents more than a renewable energy initiative, highlighting its potential to contribute to agricultural productivity, value addition, industrialisation and Namibia’s green economy ambitions.
“The Daures Green Hydrogen Village represents far more than a renewable energy project. It is a practical demonstration of how clean energy can be successfully integrated with agriculture, water security, skill development and local entrepreneurs to improve livelihoods while contributing to climate resilience,” she said.
She commended UNIDO and the United Kingdom Government for their continued support in advancing innovative and sustainable agricultural solutions in Namibia.
Masake also encouraged the project to diversify its activities to maximise its developmental impact, while urging management to ensure the productive use of land allocated to the initiative.
She said optimal land utilisation was important for promoting agricultural growth, creating employment opportunities and preventing land banking.
The Deputy Minister further highlighted that the project demonstrates productive use of communal land through a leasehold approved by the Erongo Communal Land Board in accordance with the Communal Land Reform Act.
“This monitoring mission is therefore an important opportunity to assess progress, share lessons, strengthen partnerships and ensure that implementation remains aligned with the project objectives,” she said.
Daures Green Hydrogen Village Chief Executive Officer Jerome Namaseb said the project began its journey a year ago through the A2D programme implemented by UNIDO and funded by the UK Government.
He said the initiative was aimed at realising the production of low-carbon ammonium sulphate fertiliser in Namibia, while supporting innovation, industrialisation and movement up the value chain.
“This project is really born out of necessity. It is important towards the realisation of Namibia’s innovations and industrialisation, but also provides an opportunity to venture further up the value chain as articulated in the national green industrialisation agenda,” Namaseb said.
He added that the project’s immediate goal is to produce more than 400,000 kilograms of low-carbon ammonium sulphate fertiliser annually.
The review session provided an opportunity for stakeholders to evaluate progress, exchange lessons and reaffirm commitments towards advancing Namibia’s green hydrogen and sustainable agriculture objectives.
