EU confirms N$1.9 billion in grants for Namibia’s Green Hydrogen drive 

By: Hertha Ekandjo

The European Union has clarified the scale and structure of its financial support for Namibia’s emerging green hydrogen sector, confirming that €98 million, approximately N$1.9 billion, in grants have been committed so far under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative.

EU Ambassador to Namibia, Ana Beatriz Martins, said the support forms part of a broader €1.3 billion Global Gateway package, channelled through a coordinated “Team Europe” effort involving the EU, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and European development finance institutions.

According to Martins, the grants have funded several green hydrogen pilot projects and preparatory work, including the Daures Green Hydrogen Village, HyIron Oshivela, the Cleanergy hydrogen refuelling station, and analytical support to the Hyphen Hydrogen Energy project. 

Additional funding has boosted public-sector capacity through the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme, the national Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Strategy, technical assistance, and scholarship schemes.

Beyond grants, the European Investment Bank has also indicated its readiness to provide concessional loans for large-scale infrastructure in future, offering below-market interest rates and longer repayment periods to help reduce project risks.

However, Martins stressed that Namibia currently faces no fiscal obligations, as grants and guarantees come at no cost to the Namibian government. Any future loans would be negotiated bilaterally, with terms aligned to sustainable borrowing practices.

Martins emphasised that the Global Gateway strategy is designed not merely to release public funds but to unlock private capital for Namibia’s green industrialisation. She noted that the EU’s catalytic financing has the potential to mobilise up to €20 billion in private-sector investment that us currently in the pipeline.

“Our support aims to create the right business environment, infrastructure, skills and regulatory frameworks to attract major private-sector commitments,” Martins said, adding that the initiative is positioned to drive long-term economic growth and job creation in Namibia.