Alternative Fuels: Working with Oil and Gas

AUTHOR: David Jarrett and Team Editor@ RDJ Publishing and RDJ Group ChiefExecutiveOfficer

Here are Namibia’s options

This month, we are stimulated by an interesting article covering the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary General, H.E.

Haitham Al Ghais, who looked at what would happen if oil disappeared tomorrow. His excellency went on to point out the failings in life as we know it because we in essence couldn’t move (all transportation), heat (warmth or cooking) or cool (refrigeration or air conditioning) or do anything! For me the importance or might I say the reliance on oil was bluntly made

Namibia has now secured a front seat in this matter and so much so that the Head of TotalEnergiesNamibia, Laurent Roche has asked “When will Namibia see oil funds”? This because, the buzz looking for the benefits of being an oil producer brings hope Since 2022, entities such as our national oil company, NAMCOR along with TotalEnergiesNamibia, Sintana Energy Inc , Galp, QatarEnergy and others spending billions of Namibian Dollars, hoping to land up to 11 billion barrels of oil.

I agree, it would be catastrophic but there is a “what if” What if we had removed the supremo prominence and over reliance of oil and gas by starting to integrate alternative fuel sources before such a “D-Day”?

Electricity

Namibia has abundant solar and wind resources that are already commercial NamPower get 9% of its overall energy from IPP provided renewable energy sources and when only local production of electricity is considered, some 95% of the electricity produced is from sustainable energy sources. This means that an expansion of locally produced electricity from sustainable means to meet public transport needs and even private mobility As pointed out by others, electric public transit options exist

The majority of Windhoek’s low income population move via public transport be it via the City owned buses or via the “door to door” taxis which by the way are estimated to be around 7 000 cars. While no detailed data exists for both public transport types, the City buses do some 900 000 km per annum equating to approximately 190 000 litres of diesel fuel (N$ 4 000 000) which could be reduced to N$ 2 400 000 A similar impact could be seen for taxi operations, giving room for repayment of investments in EV’s

Nuclear energy is also another option but as pointed out in our sister publication, Energy and Sustainability Africa

(March 2024), the choice will really depend on effective energy planning aligned with economic realities and aspiration Nuclear power is not new in Africa as the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in South Africa at 2 GW demonstrates, having been in operation since 1984/85, taking around 8 years for construction.

As with all industries, the need for regulatory support and action is also, and even more so present in the nuclear industry One of the bodies set up to deal with this is the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) who identifies the setting up of a nuclear programme as a “major undertaking” involving up to 15 years and a 100-year commitment.

Hydrogen

Here, Namibia has also stated its desire to be a major player for hydrogen production leading to export, with amongst other such as the Namibian Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P), spearheaded by the Mines and Energy Ministry (MME). This push and ambition has not gone un-noticed and Namibia has been invited to join the International Hydrogen Trade Forum (IHTF)

A few major projects already exist and are being developed by Hyphen Hydrogen Energy who have secured support from the Development Bank of Southern Africa as well as collaboration with Japan’s ITOCHU Corporation. HDF (Hydrogène De France) via its HDF Energy Namiba and its Renewstable project for Swakopmund, will allow ondemand dispatchable energy, providing another source of electricity production for Namibia

Cleanergy Solutions Namibia project will look at refuelling for both marine and rail applications Their project will facilitate a Hydrogen Academy that Cleanergy Solutions Namibia indicates on their website will be established to educate and train local individuals on hydrogen technology anditswide-rangingapplications.

The impact therefore of these alternatives, will ultimately once materialised help provide inflation stabilisation, opportunities for local content and create export opportunities that extend the “life” of OIL while definitely improving the options of energy provision for the Namibian economyandbeyond.

Let me summate by saying, whatever amount of oil and gas we have (as it is a finite resource) cannot be hurt by using other sustainable resources when possible and allowing our oil and gas resources to go further As always, the conversationcontinues infocus@rdjpublishing.africa

[Editor’s note that calculations are estimates and a full review would be needed and so these numbers are indicatorsandnotexactfigures]

Readings: https://www reuters com/business/energy/totalenergies-increasesits-stakes-oil-blocks-offshore-namibia-2024-01-10/ https://newsroom go-ahead com/resources/f/bus/electric-buses https://www namibian com na/totalenergies-commits-n57btonamibian-oil-sector/ https://www ecooilandgas com/namibia-sees-11-billion-barrels-inoffshore-oil-reserves/ https://www.opec.org/opec web/en/7308.htm https://www urbansdk com/blog/electric-buses-public-transit https://www renewstable-swakopmund com/