Brussels, 2 September 2024
EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson visits Namibia this week and travels to South Africa next Monday, 9 September, to enhance the EU’s energy relations with these countries.
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 by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of Namibia Hage Geingob in October 2023. The roadmap is supported by €1 billion in investments by the EU, its Member States, and European financial institutions.
Commissioner Simson will attend the Global African Hydrogen Summit in Windhoek and participate in panel discussions on ‘Delivering Africa’s Energy Transition Through The Development Of The Global Energy Map‘ on Wednesday, and a ministerial panel on ‘Africa’s Hydrogen & Clean Energy Frontiers: The Industry’s next major opportunities‘ on Thursday.
As part of the Summit on Wednesday, she will also attend the signing ceremony of several programmes funded by the EU institutions and its Member States to support the clean energy transition and hydrogen development in Namibia. This will be followed by a press conference that will be later available on EbS. On Friday and Saturday, the Commissioner will be visiting a series of energy-related projects, including the ‘HyIron’ site for the production of green iron, and the Port of Walvis Bay, which the EU is supporting with a study to turn it into an industrial and logistics hub for the region. She will also visit the ‘Towards an Inclusive Design of the Renewable Energy Transition’ (TIDRET) project, which aims to expand access to affordable and clean energy, especially in vulnerable communities.
During her stay in Windhoek, Namibia, the Commissioner has also planned a series of meetings with Namibian authorities, companies, and civil society organisations. More information is available on the Commissioners’ calendar.
On Monday, 9 September, Commissioner Simson will be in Pretoria, South Africa, where she will meet with the Minister for Energy and Electricity, Kgosientsho Ramogkopa, to discuss the green hydrogen agenda and the EU’s engagement in the development of the electricity transmission grid in the country. She will also meet with the Minister for Trade, Industry and Competition, Mpho Parks Tau, to take stock of collaboration on critical raw materials and value chains, such as e-vehicles and electric batteries.
Source – EU Commission