Video: Insight into the construction of the HyIron-Oshivela solar power plant in Namibia, a key component on our path to sustainable iron production.
- HyIron-Oshivela Green Iron project in Namibia has signed its first off-taker agreement with German-based automotive technology company Benteler.
- Oshivela will be one of the biggest primary production sites of green iron worldwide with net zero emissions.
- The agreement entails the supply of up to 200 000 tonnes of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) annually, produced using green hydrogen technology.
Co-founder of HyIron-Oshivela, Johannes Michels, made the announcement during a site visit to the plant in Arandis last week.
“This is the first time a green product from Namibia has been sold for such a long-term period, setting the stage for future phases of development,” said Michels.
“About a year ago, we embarked on a journey to build something completely new. Despite the uncertainties, we felt safe in the hands of people who value Namibia’s youth as our greatest treasure,” he added.
The project also unveiled its 12-megawatt electrolyser, the largest for Southern Africa, which will produce 15 000 tonnes of DRI annually in its initial phase. The project has an annual production potential of 1 million tonnes iron per year and is projected to avoid 1.8 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e/) year.
With a planned start in late 2024, Oshivela will be one of the biggest primary production sites of green iron worldwide. Already at this stage, the project is expected to avoid 27,000 CO₂ emissions per year, equivalent to 50% of the CO₂ emissions of Namibia’s Power industry.
A key advantage of the HyIron technology is its modularity, which allows for rapid expansion of production capacities: A feasibility study is currently conducted to evaluate the mid-term capacity expansion to 1 million tonnes of green iron per year, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1,8 Million tonnes CO₂e every year.
Namibia is uniquely positioned for the development of green iron given its abundant renewable energy resources and raw materials, robust infrastructure, skilled workforce, favourable and stable governance structures and legal frameworks as well as the ambition to become an important logistics hub for southern Africa.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
