The Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy says the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) provides evidence-based analysis, technical assistance, policy guidance, and platforms for cooperation that are critical to Namibia's energy transition.
Modestus Amutse made the remark at the 16th session of the IRENA Assembly held in the United Arab Emirates recently.
Amutse said the success of the energy transition will ultimately be measured not only by installed capacity but also by its impact on people's lives, communities, and economies.
Against this backdrop, he stated that IRENA's support to African countries in energy planning, capacity building, and investment facilitation has been instrumental in transforming ambition into tangible action.
He added that Namibia remains committed to advancing renewable energy pathways that support industrialisation, sustainable job creation, and extended energy access for all.
"Namibia is currently positioning itself to become a global producer of green hydrogen and its byproducts, anchored in its wind resources and supported by a clear national industrial vision. The country's ambition goes beyond exporting molecules; it is to build new green industries at scale, including ammonia and fertilisers that create jobs, deepen value chains and strengthen long-term economic resilience."
Amuste said that for green hydrogen projects to deliver tangible outcomes, Namibia needs to close the gaps in the areas of infrastructure, ports, transmission lines, water supply, the development of local skills, and industrial hubs.
"The key challenge in converting this into bankable projects lies in the economics of first-of-its-kind investments; securing long-term binding investments remains the single most critical hurdle, as large-scale hydrogen and derivative projects require predictable revenues to justify multimillion-dollar capital investments."
Currently, Namibia's energy transition is firmly anchored on renewable energy, as the country is gifted with world-class solar and wind resources.
The country has set a national target to achieve 70% renewable energy in the electricity mix by 2030, supported by deliberate policy and regulatory reforms to unlock investment.
IRENA is a global platform that promotes the adoption of renewable energy worldwide.