Namibia’s green ambition

With its exceptional renewable energy potential, Namibia is aiming to become one of the world leaders in green hydrogen. The emergence of such an economy opens up long-term prospects for this southern African country with a population of nearly three million: deployment of renewable energies on a large scale, reduction of the national energy deficit, support to low-carbon industrialisation and creation of local jobs.

With this in mind, strengthening the Port of Walvis Bay is a strategic investment. The aim is to prepare port infrastructures for the low-carbon transition, support the emergence of an economy based on green hydrogen and improve the movement of goods, raw materials – particularly critical minerals – as well people.

Enabel is committed to an integrated Team Belgium – Team Europe approach based on three pillars: skills development and vocational training, the creation of energy hubs and the modernisation of port and logistics infrastructure.

Vocational training and low-carbon industrialisation

Namibia has a particularly high youth unemployment rate, estimated at 45%. It is mainly the result of a mismatch between the skills provided by the education and training system and the real needs of the labour market.

Through the Global Gateway – the European Union’s external investment strategy – Enabel and GIZ (the German international cooperation agency) are developing technical qualifying training in the renewable energy and green hydrogen sectors. These training initiatives directly support a fair and inclusive green transition, as they align skills development with actual investments and employment opportunities.

While green hydrogen remains a strategic driver for Namibia, Enabel also aims to strengthen skills for the critical minerals and wind and solar sector, among others. The aim is to encourage the emergence of sustainable jobs throughout these value chains, from extraction and processing to logistics, operations and maintenance.

Port efficiency and strategic corridors

To realise Namibia’s ambitions, the development of the Port of Walvis Bay and its infrastructure is a major strategic lever.

The Walvis Bay-Maputo corridor is at the heart of this dynamic: The Ports of Walvis Bay and of Lüderitz (Namibia) and the Port of Maputo (Mozambique) are developed to stimulate regional integration, while the energy transition and the development of low-carbon industrialisation are fostered.

On the strength of its experience in modernising the Port of Cotonou in Benin, in close collaboration with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Enabel has recognised expertise in port governance. Alongside the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and GIZ, the agency is positioning itself with the European Union as a key partner in supporting the development of this strategic corridor through the strengthening of port infrastructure in Namibia and Mozambique.

This corridor is also a catalyst for private investment – like CMB.Tech, a Belgian maritime company and leader in the decarbonisation of transport, already active in Namibia – within a Team Belgium approach mobilising Belgian public, private, financial and academic expertise.

With port infrastructure, skills development and green value chains Enabel is helping to create the conditions for sustainable economic development for the Namibian people, in support of the energy transition.