After reviewing dozens of official documents and carrying out field visits, Climate Home News and Oxpeckers' investigation on green hydrogen in Namibia found the country is planning to become a major green hydrogen supplier to Europe, with the EU commission's financing, by as early as 2028.
But the projects have been selected under a secretive bidding processes, they have big potential impacts to a major biodiversity hotspot and are being led by executives with a questionable track record.
The largest project in the country was commissioned to Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, a company with links to tax havens and misleading claims. Hyphen was awarded the massive $10 billion project, but the Namibian government never published the reasoning for their selection or the content of competing bids.
Hyphen's Southern Corridor Development Initiative project will be constructed within the Tsau//Khaeb National Park, a major biodiversity hotspot in Southern Africa, in a very sensitive natural area.
The EU commission is negotiating $37 million in finance for the project. Both Japan and Europe have signed partnership deals with Namibia to become the country's top green hydrogen customers, which could potentially transform the Southern African country.
