Source:solarquarter
Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson is currently on a visit to Namibia and will head to South Africa next Monday, September 9th, to bolster the European Union’s energy relationships with these key African nations.
The visit to Namibia follows the endorsement of a roadmap for the EU-Namibia strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials value chains and renewable hydrogen, which was agreed upon by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Namibian President Hage Geingob in October 2023. This roadmap is backed by €1 billion in investments from the EU, its Member States, and European financial institutions.
During her time in Namibia, Commissioner Simson will attend the Global African Hydrogen Summit in Windhoek, where she will participate in panel discussions focused on Africa’s role in the global energy transition and the development of hydrogen and clean energy industries. The summit will also feature a signing ceremony for several EU-funded programs aimed at supporting Namibia’s clean energy transition and hydrogen sector development.
Commissioner Simson will also visit energy-related projects in Namibia, including the ‘HyIron’ site for green iron production and the Port of Walvis Bay, which the EU is supporting to develop into a regional industrial and logistics hub. Another highlight of her visit is the ‘Towards an Inclusive Design of the Renewable Energy Transition’ (TIDRET) project, which seeks to enhance access to affordable and clean energy in vulnerable communities.
While in Windhoek, Commissioner Simson has planned meetings with Namibian government officials, private companies, and civil society organizations to further discuss energy partnerships and collaborations.
On September 9th, the Commissioner will travel to Pretoria, South Africa, where she will meet with South Africa’s Minister for Energy and Electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, to discuss the green hydrogen agenda and the EU’s support for the development of the country’s electricity transmission grid. She will also engage with Minister for Trade, Industry, and Competition Mpho Parks Tau on collaboration regarding critical raw materials and value chains, including electric vehicles and batteries.
Commissioner Simson’s visit underscores the EU’s commitment to strengthening its energy ties with African nations and supporting the continent’s transition to sustainable and renewable energy sources.