Namibia, China Launch Green Iron

Key Figures & Findings: Namibia has unveiled Africa’s first industrial-scale green iron facility. Inaugurated by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the HyIron Oshivela facility leverages solar power and green hydrogen to produce iron without carbon emissions. The German-Namibian venture HyIron backs the project, which features technology from China’s Peric Hydrogen Systems, including southern Africa’s largest 12 MW electrolyzer. The $31 million plant is part of Namibia’s wider strategy to industrialize using its renewable energy advantage, shifting from raw exports to value-added manufacturing.

Statistics & Insights: Production is expected to begin this month, with a starting capacity of 15,000 tonnes per year. The expansion target is 2 million tonnes annually by 2030. The smart microgrid-powered plant operates fully off-grid and is projected to create dozens of skilled jobs while catalyzing local industry.

Future Implications: If replicated, the model could redefine mineral processing in Africa, replacing coal-intensive methods with hydrogen-based solutions.

Source: Xinhua