Namibia and the European Union signed an agreement to develop a strategic and detailed hydrogen roadmap as well as identify concrete actions for cooperation between the two parties.

The Partnership Agreement was signed by President Hage Geingob and the President of the European Union Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the Namibian Pavilion.

The agreement further establishes sustainable raw material value chains and renewable hydrogen, as well as secures a sustainable supply of raw materials, especially critical ones.

Consistent with the global agenda of reducing carbon emissions, the Namibia-EU Partnership agreement lists raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, and natural graphite for batteries or rare earth elements for permanent magnets for wind turbines and electric motors as enabling factors for decarbonizing energy production.

President Geingob described the agreement as a new beginning.

Europe's ambition for delivering on green and clean energy objectives as set out in the EU Green Deal includes access to resources as a strategic security endeavor.

The EU is planning to import 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives by 2030.

The partnership with Namibia that the EU says is a decisive act that would spark global debates for mutually beneficial ways to develop industries and fight climate change.

Namibia is expecting an increase in job creation with value chains for resources being developed locally under the partnership.

Earlier this year, the European Union unveiled €150 billion for investments in infrastructure across Africa, and member states also invested in critical priority areas.