Namibian President Hage Geingob expressed the view that the United States is overlooking investment opportunities in green hydrogen projects and mineral resources within the southern African nation. Meanwhile, the European Union has shown significant interest in these prospects.
In December, German officials visited Namibia with the intention of exploring investments in response to their quest for new energy sources to facilitate a transition to cleaner technologies. This move is partly driven by the need to compensate for the disruption of Russian gas supplies following the invasion of Ukraine. The green hydrogen projects are currently in the planning stage, while ongoing appraisals are assessing the commercial viability of oil discoveries.
President Geingob emphasized the appeal of Namibia’s green hydrogen potential, as well as its lithium and rare mineral deposits, particularly to European investors. He noted that during his visits to Europe, he has observed a rush of interest in Namibia’s resources, while American engagement has been relatively limited.
Namibia has also partnered with Dutch state-backed firms to establish a sovereign wealth fund focused on green hydrogen initiatives.
Additionally, global energy companies such as TotalEnergies SE and Shell Plc have reported offshore oil discoveries in the region since last year.
Geingob affirmed Namibia’s openness to collaboration, stating, “We have discovered oil, we have green hydrogen, and the doors are open.”
