HyIron says it plans to commence with green iron production by early 2025. In its first phase, the plant will produce five tonnes of green iron per hour, relying entirely on a 25MW solar plant and 13.4MW of battery storage to operate only during the day.
According to the company’s project engineer, Kelvine Amukwaya, the goal for phase one is to produce 15,000 tonnes of green iron annually, offsetting 27,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
“We anticipate entering commercial operations in the first quarter of 2025. By the end of this year, we are still on track to commission our plants,” he said
He further explained that the first phase of the €30-million project, which began construction in 2023, is funded to the tune of €13 million (45%) by the German government (BMWK), through a grant, and 55% by private equity.
“We secured the grant funding through a competition that my director participated in. He proposed a sustainable concept for our operations and effectively defended his idea, leading us to victory. As a result, we received the funding. The €30 million is allocated for the first phase of the project,” he said
He also explained that the second phase, planned for 2026, will increase capacity tenfold, utilising 250MW of solar power and 150MW of battery storage, enabling round-the-clock operations. This expansion will push production to 200,000 tonnes of green iron per year.
“For the second phase, we are planning to build a plant that will be 10 times larger than our current facility. This will involve approximately 250 to 260 megawatts of solar PV capacity, coupled with around 150 megawatt-hours of battery storage. Battery storage is essential for stabilising our off-grid system.”
Amukwaya said international markets such as Japan, Germany and South Africa have shown significant interest in importing green iron from Namibia. By semi-processing iron ore before export, the project adds value to Namibia’s economy and enhances the country’s industrial profile.
“We are currently seeing significant interest from Japan, where one of the key individuals leading discussions is based. Additionally, in Germany, we have strong potential partnerships. For example, Bintler, a major manufacturer of steel products, produces components for companies like BMW, including specialised car panels and steel tubes. They are one of our project partners, particularly in the research phase, and have expressed a strong interest in becoming one of our off-takers. We’re also receiving interest from several steel manufacturers in South Africa,” he said.
