James Mnyupe Bids Farewell to Government, Joins thyssenkrupp Uhde as Senior Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa

Statement by James Mnyupe, 1 October 2025

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It has been the greatest honour of my professional journey to serve the government and people of the Republic of Namibia – both as economic adviser to our late president, Hage Geingob, and as green hydrogen commissioner and head of the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme.

I am deeply grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me to lead this national initiative aimed at diversifying our economy, creating meaningful employment, and positioning Namibia as a global player in the emerging green industrialisation landscape.

Through this role, I have had the privilege of contributing to Namibia’s long-term prosperity – empowering our youth and working alongside dedicated public servants, visionary private sector leaders, and committed international partners. The collective progress we have made stands as a testament to the government’s foresight and the resilience of the Namibian people.

As I step aside, I do so with immense pride in the milestones we have achieved together and with optimism for the future of Namibia’s green hydrogen and broader green industrialisation agenda. I have full confidence in the talented staff of the programme who will continue to drive this important work forward. I remain at the disposal of the government and the programme to support this vital national vision, even beyond my departure.

Looking ahead, I am honoured to announce that I will be joining thyssenkrupp Uhde as senior vice pPresident for sub-Saharan Africa. thyssenkrupp Uhde is one of the world’s leading engineering, procurement, and construction companies, having built more than 2 500 chemical plants globally. The company brings deep expertise in oil and gas, green hydrogen, and industrial plant development – areas that align closely with Namibia’s ambitions over the past five years.

thyssenkrupp Uhde is part of the thyssenkrupp Decarbon Technologies segment – a group of businesses focused on driving industrial decarbonisation through technologies for hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, cement, lime, polymers, and renewable energy production. 

This segment unites leading entities such as thyssenkrupp rothe erde, thyssenkrupp Polysius, and thyssenkrupp nucera to offer integrated solutions for CO₂ reduction and sustainable growth.

My goal is to establish a strong thyssenkrupp Uhde presence in Namibia and to mobilise the group’s expertise and resources to help unlock the industrial clusters envisioned by the government and our private sector. I also look forward to joining the Namibia Green Hydrogen Association as a corporate member to further support the growth and realisation of the sector’s ambitions.

Joining thyssenkrupp Uhde represents not just a new chapter for me, but a continuation of the work we began together – transforming Namibia’s green industrialisation vision into reality. The potential for Africa is immense, as demonstrated by initiatives such as Kenya’s African Green Industrialisation Initiative and South Africa’s Renewable Energy Masterplan. I am eager to contribute to unlocking similar opportunities for Namibia and the continent.

This journey, which began in September 2020, would not have been possible without the unwavering support of the government of the Republic of Namibia. I extend my deepest gratitude to all my principals and colleagues for helping to place Namibia firmly on the global map as a leader in advancing the next technological wave toward a sustainable, renewable future.

Finally, to my wife Natassja Mnyupe, our children, and the broader House Mnyupe family — thank you. You have been my foundation, my strength, and my greatest source of inspiration. Your love and sacrifice have made the impossible achievable.

Thank you, Namibia. It has been an honour to serve.

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