Daures Village: Africa's First Net-Zero Village by Mr Jerome, CEO of Daures Green Hydrogen Village

His remarks highlight the Daures Green Hydrogen Village as a groundbreaking, community-inclusive project with ambitions to boost local food security and position Namibia as a leader in Africa's green economy.
Project vision and ambition
• Africa's first net-zero village: Namaseb has emphasised its goal of becoming the continent's first net-zero village, showcasing a green, circular economy.
• Addressing national challenges: He has framed the project as a way for Namibia to address food insecurity and unemployment by leveraging emerging green industries.
• Sustainable industrialisation: The Daures Village uses renewable energy—solar power and wind turbines—to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia for fertiliser production, displacing fossil fuel-dependent processes.
Community and economic empowerment
• Inclusive development: Namaseb has stressed the project's commitment to creating shared value for the local community. The traditional authority and conservancy hold shareholdings in the village.
• Local job creation: During construction and operation, the project reserved a significant portion of jobs for residents, particularly for unskilled and semi-skilled labour.
• Support for local businesses: One-third of the contractual amount for engineering, procurement, and construction has been reserved for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
• Skills development: A training centre, in partnership with the UN, was launched to train young Namibians in green innovation and sustainable agriculture.
Progress and key milestones (as of late 2024/2025)
• Completed pilot phase: The initial phase, which includes horticulture production in greenhouses, was completed in early 2025.
• Fertiliser plant construction: A groundbreaking ceremony was held in September 2025 for the pilot ammonium sulphate plant, with construction expected to take five to six months.
• Local produce on shelves: In mid-2025, Namaseb announced that the vegetables grown in the village's greenhouses—including tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers—were available for sale in regional retail stores.
• UN endorsement: He highlighted the United Nations' selection of the Daures Green Hydrogen Village as one of five "lighthouse projects" globally, which provides funding and support.
Future ambitions
• Fertiliser production: Pilot-scale fertiliser production is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, with an 80,000-ton industrial-scale plant planned for 2027.
• Industrial scaling: Phases two and three of the project envision a 5+ gigawatt hybrid facility to increase green hydrogen and ammonia production significantly for domestic and international markets.
• Export potential: In the long term, the project aims to export green ammonia to international markets, including the EU.
• Water resource management: He has addressed the challenge of water scarcity, mentioning feasibility studies for securing a long-term water supply from the ocean or a nearby desalination plant.