Namibia has launched what is reported to be the world’s first industrial-scale green iron production facility powered entirely by renewable energy.
The HyIron Oshivela plant, located in Arandis, approximately 94 km from the Port of Walvis Bay, will produce direct reduced iron (DRI) using hydrogen derived from solar power. The facility operates off-grid, powered by a 25 MW solar photovoltaic system and supported by a 13,4 MW battery energy storage system. The total investment in the project is reported at N$600 million.
The hydrogen-based reduction process replaces coal or natural gas typically used in conventional blast furnaces and DRI plants, offering a zero-emissions pathway for iron production.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah hailed the project as a landmark achievement in Namibia’s transition to a green energy-driven industrial sector. “This project positions our country as a strategic partner in the production of iron – a vital material across the automotive, energy and manufacturing industries.”
Components for the facility were sourced internationally from the European Union, US, China, Japan and the UK. “It reflects what can be accomplished when visionary leadership, global cooperation and local talent converge,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
“Our strategy focuses on establishing sustainable industrial clusters that not only cut emissions but also respond to shifting global trade dynamics where carbon-intensive products are increasingly facing restrictions,” said Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industrialisation, Mines and Energy Natangwe Ithete.
