In a move that signals a new chapter for both his career and Namibia’s green energy ambitions, Mr. James Mnyupe, the founding head of the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme, has announced his departure from the role and his subsequent appointment as Senior Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa at the global engineering powerhouse, thyssenkrupp Uhde.
Effective 1 November 2025, Mnyupe steps down from his position as Green Hydrogen Commissioner, a role he has held since 2021, where he was instrumental in transforming a “bold national idea into a tangible reality.” His departure marks the end of a formative era for the nation’s flagship green industrialisation initiative.
Reflecting on his service, Mnyupe stated, “It has been the highest honour of my professional journey to serve the Government and the people of the Republic of Namibia.” He expressed profound gratitude for the trust placed in him to lead the national initiative, which aimed to diversify the economy, create meaningful employment, and position Namibia as a global player in green industrialisation.
Under his leadership, the Programme achieved monumental strides. It successfully mobilised over €120 million in investment, positioning Namibia as a continental benchmark for green hydrogen development. Flagship projects such as HyIron-Oshivela, Cleanergy Solutions Namibia, and the Daures Green Hydrogen Village were facilitated, with several already producing tangible outputs like green steel and ammonia.
Furthermore, Mnyupe spearheaded critical human capital development, with the Youth for Green Hydrogen Scholarship Programme enabling over 180 Namibians to pursue specialised training. His tenure also contributed to the creation of nearly 800 jobs and was defined by the development of strategic frameworks like the Green Industrialisation Blueprint.
The Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme issued a statement extending “profound gratitude to Mr Mnyupe for his remarkable service, leadership, and dedication,” affirming that the strong institutional foundation he built will ensure the continuity of the Programme’s vision.
As he steps aside, Mnyupe leaves with “great optimism” for the sector’s future, expressing full confidence in the capable team tasked with carrying the work forward. He also reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the national vision, a pledge that seamlessly aligns with his new career path.
In a significant development, Mnyupe announced he will be joining thyssenkrupp Uhde, a world-renowned engineering, procurement, and construction company with expertise in building over 2,500 chemical plants globally. In this senior role, his mission is deeply interwoven with Namibia’s ambitions.
“I aim to establish a thyssenkrupp Uhde presence in Namibia and mobilise the group’s knowhow and resources necessary to unlock the industrial clusters envisioned by Government and our private sector,” Mnyupe stated. A key priority will be joining the Namibia Green Hydrogen Association as a corporate member to help realise the sector’s ambitions.
This transition positions Mnyupe from a national architect of green hydrogen policy to a global catalyst, equipped with the immense resources of a €38 billion conglomerate, to directly enable the construction of the very plants Namibia has envisioned. His move represents not a departure from the cause, but an evolution of his capacity to drive its realisation on the ground, signalling a powerful new phase of public-private partnership for Namibia’s clean energy future.