Hyphen Energy's landmark USD 10 billion green hydrogen and ammonia project in Namibia has progressed towards securing a “strategic foreign project” status from the German government.
Enertrag SE, the German renewables developer and controlling shareholder of Hyphen Hydrogen Energy (Pty) Ltd, signed a letter of intent (LoI) with German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck on March 19. The LoI confirms the project's suitability in Namibia for consideration for final approval as a strategic foreign project.
The German government grants this status to select international projects involving German companies, making them eligible for targeted support during implementation.
Minister Habeck highlighted Germany's support for sustainable green hydrogen economies in Namibia through hydrogen and PtX cooperation, stating: “The ‘Hyphen' project is committed to this in a similar way. We are therefore prepared to categorise it as a foreign project, under certain conditions, in the strategic interest of the Federal Republic of Germany and thus provide more support than usual through our foreign trade promotion instruments.”
Hyphen's flagship project aims to install around 3 GW of electrolysis capacity within the Tsau //Khaeb national park, powered by approximately 7 GW of renewable energy, mainly from wind and solar sources.