Posted on 08 Nov 2023
Africa's first industrial-scale zero-emissions iron production project using green hydrogen has broken ground in Namibia.
The Oshivela project in western Namibia is backed by the German government, with the initial investment phase totalling €13 million ($13.9m). Production is set to commence by the end of 2024, with a direct reduced iron capacity of 15,000 tonnes/year, creating over 50 jobs, the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) says in a statement seen by Kallanish.
The investment is part of a host of joint projects between Namibian and German companies being facilitated by NIPDB.
Rainer Baake, special envoy for German-Namibian energy and climate cooperation, says: “The sponge iron produced here can also be used as a preliminary product in steel production in Germany to manufacture green steel for the production of wind turbines or vehicles."
NIPDB executive director François Van Schalkwyk says value addition is important to the Namibian economy as it not only fosters diversification, but also creates much needed employment.
Namibia, in southwest Africa on the Atlantic Ocean coast, has iron ore deposits with 37% Fe content at Lodestone.
Source:Kallanish
