Source: Wall Street Journal

Date Published: 10.01.2025

Link: German Firm’s African Green-Energy Project Runs Into Ghosts From Past

A significant conflict has emerged around the Hyphen green hydrogen project in Namibia, which is a major Public/Private Development backed by the German firm Enertrag and the Namibian government. This $10 billion facility aims to be one of the world’s largest, producing clean energy to support Europe’s Net Zero goals and create thousands of jobs. However, the Nama ethnic group has filed a complaint with the U.N., arguing the project is being built on land seized during Germany’s colonial genocide. Nama leaders contend that they have been sidelined and that many community members remain landless, living in informal settlements while white Namibians control 70% of commercial farmland. Furthermore, environmental groups are concerned that the project’s location within the Tsau //Khaeb National Park threatens unique plant species and endangered African penguins. Though the Namibian government holds a 24% stake and promises local benefits, developers maintain that land disputes are a matter for the state, not the private venture.