CHAMWE KAIRA
Works on Cleanergy Green Hydrogen’s project near Walvis Bay are progressing as planned and depending on the delivery of the electrolyser, the company is still targeting operations to start in the fourth quarter of this year.
The project is being undertaken by Cleanergy Solutions Namibia, is a joint venture between the O&L Group and CMB.TECH.
Victoria Moller, group assistant manager of corporate relations at Ohlthaver & List Group, further commented on the progress on the hydrogen refueling station adding that the company is currently finishing the interior of the main building.
“Furthermore, the installation of the solar park is being completed and we are gradually installing additional equipment in the production area,” said Moller.
She said the hydrogen refuelling station site is approximately 80% complete. Commenting on plans to produce molecules in Walvis Bay to power locally operated trucks, port equipment, locomotives and small ships, Moller said it remains the intention of the company to locally use the green hydrogen produced onsite.
“We are diligently working and exploring the use and the development of hydrogen applications for various markets, port, mining, power generation, trucks and rail,” said Moller.
Regarding plans to launch the first hydrogen-powered ship in Africa, Moller said the company is in talks with Namport to finalise the technical requirements and to agree on the framework of the hydrogen powered multi-purpose workboat for the port of Walvis Bay.
“We hope to finalise the technical specification the upcoming months. The construction will start as soon as all technical design work of the vessel and the hydrogen system is finalised and approved. Also the financial and operational aspects need to be agreed upon,” she said.
On the plans to construct the hydrogen production plant, Moller said the construction of the hydrogen production plant is well advanced.
“For hydrogen storage and compression, we have our low pressure buffer, compressor, intermediate storage and medium pressure storage installed. For the production, we already have the power container and dry cooler. Last step in the completion of the plant will be the installation of the electrolyser,” she said.
The company together with CMB.TECH, Port of Antwerp Bruges and Namport, plans to launch the first hydrogen-powered ship in Africa. Currently, the company is in the process of finalising the technical design of the vessel in a team work between CMB.TECH, Cleanergy, PoAB and Namport.
The company has also said it plans to use a 500bar mobile refueller to refuel the port equipment and small ships.
