EU, Namibia sign roadmap for raw materials, hydrogen partnership

The EU and Namibia on Tuesday launched a roadmap for their strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials value chains and renewable hydrogen, which is backed by EUR 1 billion in investments by the EU, its member states and European financial institutions.

The roadmap was signed by European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen and the President of Namibia Hage Geingob ahead of the Global Gateway Forum taking place on October 25-26 in Brussels.

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The EU and Namibia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the partnership in November 2022. The roadmap is for the 2023–2025 period and details actions along the six pillars of the MoU. This is presented in the following way by the EC:

- Integration of value chains, including by working with the industry to identify, promote and facilitate cooperation in the exploration and commercial development of critical raw material projects.

- Cooperation to leverage environmental, social and governance criteria, including by mapping and assessing abandoned mines and supporting Namibia in using Earth Observation and remote sensing methods for resource exploration, land use planning and management.

- Mobilising funding for soft and hard infrastructure, including for selected mining, refining and mineral green processing projects (water, rail, renewable energy) and for the upgrade of main transport corridors (port, rail, roads).

- Capacity building, training and skills development, including identifying training and skills needs along the raw material and green hydrogen value chains and enhancing the relevant technical and vocational training offer by Team Europe in cooperation with the industry.

- Co-operation on research and innovation, including facilitating studies and joint research projects and research and business networking along the entire critical raw material value chain.

- Regulatory alignment, including supporting Namibia in developing a national strategy for critical raw materials and enacting a synthetic fuels act to create an enabling environment for hydrogen and synthetic fuels industry, and ensure compatibility with international green fuels, certification and standards.

In addition, the EU will support an upcoming study for the development of the Port of Walvis Bay to become a regional logistics and industrial hub for the green hydrogen and derivatives economy. A master plan for the port’s transformation will be prepared by the Port of Antwerp and Bruges International.

In a bid to secure a sustainable supply of critical raw materials for its clean energy goals, the EC has started creating partnerships with resource-rich third countries. Besides Namibia, it has formed strategic partnerships on raw materials with Canada, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.063)