Germany is interested in purchasing some of the so-called "green" hydrogen gas that Namibia is expected to start producing soon. 

Speaking to Namibian President Hage Geingob and Energy Minister Tom Alweendo during his recent visit to Windhoek, the German Economy Minister, Robert Habeck, said that the last thing anyone wants is for Namibia to fall foul of "green energy imperialism." 

The planned green hydrogen project in Namibia must also benefit the people of Namibia, he said. There could not be, he explained, a situation whereby Namibia developed the energy only for Europe or Germany to suck it away and leave the country with nothing.

The project in question involves an investment of about $10 billion. A German company is also involved.

Habeck said Germany was making Namibia an offer that was perhaps different from other "energy-hungry" economies. Germany, he added, wants the country to develop more, people to be qualified, jobs to be created and unemployment to fall.

Geingob, for his part, emphasised that Namibia was exploring new ways of cooperating with Germany, while Alweendo described Germany as an important partner. 

"Green" hydrogen, produced using renewable energies such as wind or solar power, is to play a key role in Germany's transition to renewable energies, a transformation that has become more urgent since the natural gas tap from Russia was turned off. Namibia is to become an important supplier of hydrogen.