Oxpeckers tracked 14 GH2 projects in the country and found that implementation has been slow, with the only real growth being in bureaucracy
Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.More LNG than GH2: A Swapo election billboard outside Swakopmund that echoes the ruling party’s manifesto, which relegates green hydrogen to a supporting rather than main act in their vision of the future.
At the same time, the green hydrogen initiative — now known officially as “NGH2P” — is to be incorporated into the Ministry of Mines and Energy as a programme in the Directorate of Energy programme, but reporting to an “implementing committee” comprising of the ministers of Finance and Public Enterprise; Environment, Forestry and Tourism and the National Planning Commission .
A worldwide shortage of electrolyser units needed to crack water into hydrogen and oxygen molecules remains a problem, with Cleanergy, Daures Green Village and HyIron all awaiting delivery from Chinese suppliers at the time of writing. Most GH2 projects are only in the conceptual phase, like Chekai Investments’ proposed Henties Bay green ammonia and modular oil refinery, with its own desalination plant that local councillor Peet Swart said is “… still just a concept of a plan, very short on any details”.
“As a first mover in a new industry, one has to always ask if it is worth the risk and costs” because of the huge capital requirement for greenfield start-ups, Sherbourne cautioned. “It is always better to get it right from the start.” Today, the same infrastructure would cost R5.872 billion . With Cleanergy, HyIron, Eloff Hansson, HDF and Chiffon Energy all looking to Namwater for their water to be supplied via Arandis , the experts asked who would foot this bill.
The Erongo Desalination Plant in Wlotzkasbaken, which supplies Orana’s uranium mine and which is to be upgraded to 25 million m3 of water per annum. A second such plant and pipeline today would cost in excess of R7-billion. Orana acknowledged that Cleanergy and Daures had approached them about water supplies, but re-affirmed Namwater’s legal monopoly over bulk water supply in Namibia.
With Namibia experiencing the worst drought since 1991, there seems little hope of this obstacle being resolved, Von Oertzen, a clean energy consultant, told Oxpeckers. “The green hydrogen economy may have over-sold itself somewhat and encouraged a whole lot of speculation for what appears to be more political than economic reasons,” he said.At Daures there is little sign of the promised “green village” employing 3 000 people.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Municipalities in SA’s energy heartland, Mpumalanga, have financial problems implementing the energy transitionSouth Africa has received pledges of about $11.6 billion for its just energy transition. Oxpeckers Investigative Environmental Journalism asked the treasury how
Read more »
Zambia electricity crisis: Drought hits hydro-powered Kariba DamA drought has caused an electricity crisis as Zambia heavily relies on the hydro-powered Kariba Dam.
Read more »
Gluten-free lemon green tea and blueberry crumpetsCrumpets are a beloved breakfast treat, but this gluten-free version with lemon green tea and blueberries takes things to a whole next level.
Read more »
R2.7-billion MultiChoice transaction gets green lightA deal for Sanlam to acquire part of MultiChoice’s insurance business has been approved by the Competition Commission.
Read more »
Saying goodbye to the green ID bookSeveral key developments have occurred in the past few weeks surrounding smart ID card issuing, which could boost the government’s push to phase out green ID books in the coming years.
Read more »
Ecomondo 2024: The Mattei Plan for Sustainable Development the Focus of the 'Africa Green Growth Forum'At Italian Exhibition Group's leading trade show for green technologies, from 5 th to 8 th November, in Rimini, Italy, focus on Africa and global environmental challenges. More than 100 African representatives and delegations from 120 foreign countries expected to attend.
Read more »