Namibia is joining other African countries at the Africa Green Hydrogen Summit, taking place from 15 to 16 September.

The summit brings together governments, investors, project developers and other stakeholders to advance green hydrogen across the continent.

For Namibia, the focus is shifting beyond simply producing green hydrogen.

Interim Head of the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme, Joseph Mukendwa, says continental platforms such as the Cape Town summit provide an opportunity to strengthen economic diplomacy, attract investment and deepen regional cooperation in the emerging green economy.

"We cannot do that if we do these projects alone. It is also important that as we come here to South Africa, we talk about regional collaboration, regional integration, and how Namibia and South Africa can work together and be the champions of SADC regional green industrialisation, because if we are able to hold hands and develop projects in both these countries."

Mukendwa added Namibia's ambition is to use green hydrogen as a foundation for industrial development.

He says Namibia and South Africa can use their respective strengths to champion green industrialisation within SADC, create economic opportunities and position the region as a competitive producer of green products for international markets.

Germany is also calling for Africa to avoid repeating traditional extractive models, where raw resources are exported with limited value being created on the continent.

The Deputy Director-General for Africa at Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Philipp Knill, says the development of green hydrogen should instead support industries and value chains within Africa.

"There are many use cases of green hydrogen and its derivatives in Africa: fertiliser, explosives for mining, and even green steel for the automotive industry, which is very strong, for example, in South Africa. There is production of this energy; it's not extraction, it's actually production of green energy in Namibia and, for example, South Africa. When it comes to the sun, photovoltaics, and wind, it's the opportunity of really having a full value chain in Namibia, for example."

Knill identified Namibia's emerging green iron industry as one example of how partnerships can support value creation closer to where renewable energy is produced.

The Africa Green Hydrogen Summit continues in Cape Town through Wednesday, with participants expected to discuss the development of green hydrogen across Africa.