
By Bright Philip Donkor
Namibia’s Presidential Economic Advisor and Green Hydrogen Commissioner, James Mnyupe, has called on African governments and businesses to prioritize green hydrogen and renewable energy solutions to foster economic growth and reduce carbon emissions on the continent.
He made the call while speaking as a panelist on the topic ‘Delivering Affordable, Accessible, and Sustainable Energy Solutions for Africa’ during Day 2 of APD 2025, held at the Accra International Conference Centre on Friday, 31 January 2025.
Mr. James Mnyupe highlighted the country’s bold plans for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors with a focus on clean hydrogen, which he calls the key to driving global sustainability.
He explained that the transition to a low-carbon future hinges on the use of clean molecules, including hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia, with hydrogen at the core of these transformative solutions.
Mnyupe shared insights into Namibia’s three-year journey, undertaken in collaboration with the late president, to develop a comprehensive transactional roadmap aimed at positioning the country as a leader in renewable energy production.
“At the heart of this strategy lies hydrogen, which can be produced using renewable energy sources, primarily through electrolysis,” he noted.
He said the roadmap outlines several large-scale initiatives, including a hydroelectricity project with a key partner, A.I., and the harnessing of Namibia’s natural wind and solar energy potential across three specific valleys.