By Patricia Nekongo
The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) is positioning the ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz to support Namibia’s emerging green hydrogen, renewable energy and industrial sectors, with infrastructure development aimed at connecting major projects to regional and international markets.
The strategy places the two ports at the centre of Namibia’s ambitions to develop a green industrial economy, in which renewable energy, industrial production, maritime logistics and international trade are expected to play an important role.
In its capabilities overview published in August 2026, Namport says its infrastructure at Walvis Bay and Lüderitz provides a link between industrial developments, regional transport corridors and international shipping networks.
The state-owned enterprise describes its role as providing strategic ports, integrated logistics and global connectivity to support Namibia’s industrial growth and strengthen its position as a regional maritime logistics hub.
The two ports have different but complementary functions.
Walvis Bay serves as Namibia’s established logistics gateway, handling cargo moving through the country and supporting regional trade, while Lüderitz is positioned to accommodate emerging energy and industrial developments, particularly those associated with green hydrogen projects in the //Kharas region.
Namport’s strategy is based on masterplan-led development, with infrastructure planned to respond to changing cargo requirements and the anticipated growth of new industries.
Proposed and planned infrastructure includes green hydrogen and ammonia terminals, multipurpose and dry bulk terminals, liquid bulk handling facilities, oil storage capacity, shipyard facilities and areas for staging project cargo.
These facilities are intended to support the movement, handling and storage of materials and equipment required by large industrial and energy projects.
Project cargo can include heavy machinery, specialised components and oversized equipment that require dedicated port facilities and careful coordination during transportation.
The development strategy also places emphasis on regional connectivity.
Namibia’s ports connect maritime trade with transport routes serving markets in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), allowing cargo to move between international shipping networks and inland destinations.
Through these connections, Namport aims to strengthen the role of the ports in supporting cross-border trade and providing logistics services to businesses operating beyond Namibia’s borders.
The expansion of Walvis Bay’s North Port is a major part of the strategy.
The development is intended to provide additional capacity for liquid bulk handling, oil storage and other activities associated with growing energy and industrial requirements.
Additional port infrastructure could support the handling of fuel and other liquid products, while providing space for cargo associated with large industrial developments.
The expansion is also intended to accommodate future demand as new projects move from planning and construction towards commercial operations.
The North Port development forms part of Namport’s broader long-term infrastructure planning, which seeks to align port facilities with changing trade patterns and the requirements of emerging industries.
The availability of suitable berths, storage areas and cargo-handling facilities is important for projects that depend on the delivery of heavy equipment and large quantities of construction materials.
Namport’s plans come as Namibia advances its ambitions to become a producer and exporter of green hydrogen and its derivatives, including green ammonia.
Green hydrogen is produced by using renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis.
When the electricity comes from renewable sources such as solar and wind, the process can produce hydrogen with substantially lower emissions than conventional methods that rely on fossil fuels.
Green ammonia, produced using hydrogen and nitrogen, is being considered for international export because it can be transported by ship and used in fertiliser production and other industrial applications.
Developing these industries requires more than renewable electricity.
Ports, water supplies, transport infrastructure, storage facilities and export connections are also necessary to move products to international markets.
Lüderitz has gained prominence because of proposed green hydrogen developments in the //Kharas region.
Among them is the Hyphen Hydrogen Energy project, planned for the Tsau //Khaeb National Park area near the coastal town.
The proposed development is intended to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia for export, supported by renewable energy generation and associated infrastructure.
The development of port facilities in the south is therefore important to the movement of equipment during construction and the potential export of products once production begins.
However, the timing and scale of these activities will depend on investment decisions, financing, regulatory approvals and the completion of supporting infrastructure.
Walvis Bay is expected to continue serving as a major gateway for regional and international trade, while Lüderitz is being positioned to support emerging energy projects and related industrial activities.
The two ports are intended to work together within Namibia’s wider logistics network rather than operate as competing facilities.
Namport has also pursued international cooperation to prepare its ports for potential green energy exports.
Cooperation with international maritime and logistics partners is intended to strengthen Namibia’s readiness to participate in emerging energy supply chains and improve connections with overseas markets.
The authority says its capabilities include project cargo support, strategic maritime infrastructure, cargo staging, handling, storage and distribution.
These services are intended to provide project developers with facilities needed to transport construction materials, machinery and industrial products through the ports.
Port development could also create business opportunities for logistics operators, equipment suppliers, transport companies and other service providers.
The extent of these opportunities will depend on the scale and timing of industrial investment, as well as the participation of Namibian businesses and workers in the developing supply chains.
Namport’s infrastructure plans are also intended to prepare the ports for changing global energy and trade requirements, as countries and industries explore lower-emission production and transportation systems.
The authority is seeking to align its facilities with potential growth in green energy, industrial manufacturing and regional cargo movement.
Namport is inviting project developers, logistics partners and investors to engage with the authority to explore how its port infrastructure and services can meet their requirements.
Through the development of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz, Namport aims to strengthen Namibia’s position in regional trade while preparing its maritime infrastructure to support potential growth in renewable energy, green industrial production and international exports.
