Niël Terblanché
Namibia’s national transporter, TransNamib has decided to pause its ambitious dual fuel locomotive project as part of a strategic shift aimed at focusing on its core objectives, including the procurement of new rolling stock worth N$2.6 billion and plans to more than double its annual freight volume over the next five years.
The decision was made to allow the national rail operator to channel its resources towards immediate priorities critical for the country’s rail infrastructure and economic development.
The decision to reassess the dual fuel project was confirmed by James Mnyupe, the commissioner of Namibia’s Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P), who reiterated that the move would enable TransNamib to achieve its goals more efficiently while preparing for future hydrogen-powered rail operations.
“Although the project has been temporarily shelved, TransNamib remains committed to Namibia’s Green Hydrogen Strategy, a cornerstone of the country’s green industrialisation efforts,” he said.
Mnyupe gave the assurance that the collaboration between NGH2P and TransNamib is still strong, with plans to accelerate the deployment of a dual-fuel hydrogen-diesel locomotive as early as April next year.
He lauded TransNamib’s decision to realign its strategy, expressing confidence that this focus on immediate priorities will better position the organisation to contribute meaningfully to the country’s environmental goals, including the eventual decarbonisation of rail transport.
The dual fuel project is part of a larger initiative to introduce green hydrogen technologies across various sectors in Namibia.
TransNamib’s eventual goal is to decarbonise its fleet by integrating hydrogen power into its locomotives. The project is spearheaded by a consortium comprising Hyphen Technical, CMB.TECH, the University of Namibia (Unam), and the South African locomotive company, Traxtion.
The initiative, named HyRail Namibia, is projected to convert two locomotives to run on both hydrogen and diesel, setting a precedent for green rail transport in Africa.
Namibia’s green hydrogen sector has garnered the world’s attention, with multiple pilot projects aimed at positioning the country as a leader in green energy.
One of the projects, in collaboration with Hyphen Technical, is focused on the development of Africa’s first hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel locomotives, which are expected to run on Namibian-produced green hydrogen.
According to Mnyupe, these locomotives are part of a N$110 million project that includes prototypes being developed in South Africa before deployment in Walvis Bay.
He said the current pause on the dual fuel project does not diminish the country’s ambition to lead the hydrogen energy revolution.
“With the groundwork being laid for these advanced technologies, Namibia remains a key player in Africa’s transition to renewable energy and sustainable industrialization,” he said.
The strategic shift positions TransNamib to achieve its long-term objectives while contributing to Namibia’s broader green energy vision.
