NAMIBIA TO HOST GLOBAL HYDROGEN SUMMIT 2024

Caption: A scene from Namibia.

Following its launch at COP28 UAE in December 2023, the pioneering Global African Hydrogen Summit, slated for Windhoek, Namibia on 3 – 5 September 2024, is the first and only platform of its kind aimed at driving critical investments into bankable African green energy projects, attracting the attention of heads of state, ministers and CEOs worldwide.

Ahead of the Global African Hydrogen Summit an international press conference is scheduled to take place on Thursday 18 April 2024 in Windhoek. Namibia’s Minister of Mines & Energy, Honourable Tom Alweendo stated that, “the Global African Hydrogen Summit will be the first platform of its kind to be leveraged by African governments, investors, financiers, scholars and the public to unlock additional opportunities for our continent and its partners. The Summit will also provide a platform for the global players in the hydrogen value chain to showcase their projects, plans and technologies to the African continent.”

Angola, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria and South Africa among others, all have critical hydrogen projects at the heart of their national energy development strategies.

In recent news the Egyptian government is reported to have signed seven more agreements for green hydrogen projects worth USD 40bn over next ten years. In Mauritania, TotalEnergies and Chariot Group have announced the completion of the feasibility study for a proposed 10 GW green hydrogen project. And Namibia takes one step closer to securing her vision of green industrialisation by securing further support for the USD 10bn Hyphen green hydrogen project.

The Global African Hydrogen Summit is fully endorsed by the Government of the Republic of Namibia, through the Ministry of Mines and Energy, and support from the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board as a strategic partner.

Themed From Ambition to Action: Fuelling Africa’s Green Industrial Revolution, the Global African Hydrogen Summit will platform six critical thematic pillars including; developing Africa’s thriving hydrogen market to enhance the global energy map; building new partnerships and collaboration across industries and governments; stimulating investment and finance into hydrogen projects; maximising green energy innovation and climate technology; fostering green industrialisation and macro-economic growth and developing capacity, skills and a local content roadmap.

Renewable hydrogen (also known as green hydrogen) is produced from renewable sources including solar, wind and hydro, and is expected to be an enabling contributor to a new energy system. Green hydrogen for example can provide energy security, power generation, clean cooking and decabonise hard-to-abate sectors including steel, cement, aviation, petrochemicals, shipping and refining. For many African countries, the key priority is to sustainably harness existing resources to meet the growing demand for energy that will electrify households, advance economic development, and map a sustainable path to eliminating energy poverty across the continent. According to the consultancy McKinsey & Company, collectively and through collaboration, hydrogen producing African countries have the potential to complement African hydrogen exports of up to 40 megatons by 2050 and meet its full domestic demand potential of 10 to 18 megatons of hydrogen.

The dynamic three-day Global African Hydrogen Summit will include a world-class Strategic Conference with Leadership Boardroom Dialogues and over 100 expert speakers. Privately conducted Project Investment Roundtables with over 40 bankable African green energy projects being assessed, tracked and accelerated to financial closure. Additionally, the Summit will host an international, large scale, Exhibition, including a Startup H2ub incubator. which will also welcome a strong Youth Programme and representatives of civil society.

In its inaugural edition to be hosted in Namibia, the three-day Global African Hydrogen Summit (GAH2S) will convene heads of state, government agencies, industry business leaders, project developers, investors, thought leaders and technologists from across Africa and around the globe to drive critical investments and financing into bankable green energy projects of strategic and national importance across Africa, spanning hydrogen, renewables, power, infrastructure, transportation and mobility sectors.

As a dynamic and innovative investment platform, the Global African Hydrogen Summit (GAH2S) will provide a variety of engagement opportunities including educative masterclasses, high level leadership dialogues, a strategic conference, project investment roundtables, and a technology and innovation international exhibition.

Participation is expected from across the global energy value chain including: