Netherlands, Namibia to intensify cooperation on green hydrogen – Euractiv.
Increased cooperation in the field of green hydrogen as well as dialogue with third countries concerning the war in Ukraine, were the main topics during Prime Minister Rutte’s (VVD/Renew) visit to Namibia.
Together with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Rutte visited the Southwest African state and met with the Namibian delegation under President Hage Geingob while being accompanied by a delegation of business representatives.
Rutte, said:
“The war in Ukraine and the resulting energy crisis have taught […] particularly us in Europe, a hard but clear lesson: we have to do more to prepare for the green future,”
Rutte stated in front of the press, adding that “when it comes to starting a [green hydrogen] supply corridor in Southern Africa, there is no better partner […] than Namibia”.
The three sides discussed investments into strategic infrastructure in Namibia, such as ports and desalination plants, to produce and export green hydrogen and ammonia, zinc, phosphate or manganese towards Europe. The infrastructure would primarily be located along Namibia’s coastline.
The talks followed a joint $10 billion project between Namibian green hydrogen company Hyphen Hydrogen Energy and the country’s government, which, once completed, is set to export green hydrogen to Europe.
James Mnyupe, Namibian Green Hydrogen Commissioner said:
The Dutch will receive a lot of these molecules from around the world and then begin to transport them into Germany, so [gas company] Gasunie and the port of Rotterdam are all very strategic partners that we can work with.
Namibian Green Hydrogen Commissioner James Mnyupe stated, adding that Namibia is seeking to “introduce new engines of growth”.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed, containing clauses which aim to simplify travel requirements for holders of diplomatic passports and facilitate the return of illegal migrants from the Netherlands and Denmark back to Namibia.
Ukraine war
The war in Ukraine was also on the agenda, mere days after an African delegation had visited Russia to convince President Vladimir Putin to cease hostilities.
“We also discussed at length the war in Ukraine. I think it is important to have that dialogue with countries outside Europe and NATO, to look out how we might protect the international legal order,” Rutte stated.
“If we have a global situation with problems, it always hits harder here in Africa. […] I think we have to work closer together, it has to be in a new way,” Frederiksen added.
Namibia was the first stop of the Dutch prime minister’s three-day Africa visit, which will also see him and his Danish counterpart visit South Africa and Morocco.
Netherlands, Namibia to intensify cooperation on green hydrogen, June 19,2023
