[{"bbox": [97, 154, 767, 180], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### MoU on sustainable raw materials value chains and renewable hydrogen:"}, {"bbox": [97, 191, 1134, 402], "category": "Text", "text": "The signature of the MoU between President Geingob and President Von Der Leyen in November 2022, marks an important milestone in the EU-Namibian relations. Through the partnership Namibia and the EU aim to: (1) promote the development of a local renewable hydrogen industry and refining and processing capacities for raw materials, thus increasing local value addition in Namibia, and (2) ensure a secure and sustainable supply of raw materials and renewable hydrogen. The partnership contains 6 pillars covering the entire raw materials and renewable hydrogen value chains (exploration, extraction, refining, processing, recycling) and ecosystem, with actions on capacity building, training and skills, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards and research and innovation."}, {"bbox": [97, 417, 1134, 498], "category": "Text", "text": "In order to implement the MoU, the EU Delegation is developing a Team Europe Initiative with the aim of bringing together all the support provided by the EU, its MS, EU DFIs and the private sector in a single, cohesive and impactful joint effort."}, {"bbox": [97, 508, 1134, 561], "category": "Text", "text": "The Joint Intervention Framework of the TEI under development lists 23 sustainable energy interventions for a combined value of more than EUR 900 million."}, {"bbox": [97, 572, 1134, 680], "category": "Text", "text": "Several European private companies are involved in developing investment projects for the production of renewable energy, including green hydrogen, ammonia and e-fuels for local market and export. Similarly, the EU and its MS have pledged a significant amount of technical and financial support to help the Government in spearheading the emergence of the hydrogen industry."}, {"bbox": [97, 690, 1134, 798], "category": "Text", "text": "The EIB has signed a joint declaration with the Ministry of Finance for a sovereign framework loan of EUR 500 million towards the development of the renewable energy and hydrogen sectors. The EIB is also engaging directly with the EU major private investors with the aim of providing blended finance and other de-risking instruments for projects' development."}, {"bbox": [97, 809, 1134, 943], "category": "Text", "text": "The proposed action is an integral component of this Team Europe Initiative and will contribute directly to the achievements of the political objectives of the MoU. Through the capacity support to the Ministry of Mines and Energy and to the GH2 Implementation Authority Office, the programme will contribute towards creating an enabling ecosystem for the development of the emerging green hydrogen sector and the scaling up of renewable energy generation."}, {"bbox": [86, 969, 341, 1000], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [97, 1015, 1134, 1096], "category": "Text", "text": "Despite its ambition to become a regional powerhouse for the production of green hydrogen and renewable electricity, Namibia is still largely dependent on imported fossil fuels (mainly from South Africa) to meet its electricity demand."}, {"bbox": [97, 1107, 1134, 1162], "category": "Text", "text": "Indeed, Namibia has a low electrification rate of 56% and only 25% in rural areas, where women constitute the largest percentage of the population."}, {"bbox": [97, 1173, 1134, 1254], "category": "Text", "text": "The country meets about 30% of its electricity needs from its own generation capacities (2022). Namibia has among the highest electricity prices in southern Africa – with tariffs not subsidised by the Government. The high cost of electricity is also impacting negatively on the country's overall competitiveness and industrialisation."}, {"bbox": [97, 1265, 1134, 1346], "category": "Text", "text": "Universal access to electricity is not a stand-alone target. Increasing access to electricity can help increase educational attainment, improve healthcare, increase food security, and create business opportunities and jobs. The realisation of all these dimensions of well-being has a direct impact on achieving fairer and more equal societies"}, {"bbox": [97, 1357, 1134, 1412], "category": "Text", "text": "To address these challenges, the Government launched plans to increase internal production capacity – notably from renewables, and to reduce the country's reliance on imported energy."}, {"bbox": [97, 1423, 1134, 1610], "category": "Text", "text": "The National Development Plan 5 (NDP5) calls for reduction of the country's reliance on imported energy and diversification of energy sources. In the second Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPPII, 2021-25), the Government has set the target to increase local generation to 879 MW by 2025, mainly from renewable sources. The recently approved \"Namibia Integrated Resource Plan 2022 update\" projects an increase of installed capacity in Namibia to a minimum of 3116 MW by 2040 out of which 2/3 should come from renewable sources. Renewable energies are also planned to have an increasingly significant role in rural electrification. The construction of mini grids with photovoltaics or biomass is to be accelerated to reduce the energy access gap. Finally, HPPII foresees foreign"}, {"bbox": [1038, 1682, 1143, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 6 of 26"}]