Namibia: TransNamib operator’s two locomotives are being upgraded by Traxtion Rail at its Rosslyn maintenance facility in South Africa. The work involves replacing the conventional diesel engine with one that burns a hydrogen-diesel blend.
Tenders for hydrogen transport are also under assembly. Each will hold two 20-foot tanks, with up to 360 kg of compressed hydrogen per tank. Should hydrogen be unavailable, the locomotive will automatically switch to diesel fuel.
The locomotives are slated for entry into service by the end of this year. They will operate on the 414 km line between Namibia’s main port of Walvis Bay and a container depot near Windhoek. Hydrogen for the project will be produced at a plant by Belgian firm CMB.Tech in Walvis Bay.
The initial phase envisages 50 return trips along this route. Notably, the elevation change—from 6 m above sea level at the port to 1,601 m in Windhoek—will enable testing of traction performance and powerplant reliability under sustained load.
The project has been underway since 2022 by a consortium led by investment fund Hyphen Technical. It has received a €7.6 mln grant from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research BMBF.
In addition to hydrogen, CMB.Tech will supply the 1.6 MW hydrogen-diesel internal combustion engine technology. The solution injects hydrogen during the intake stroke and, during compression, forms a homogeneous mixture. A small amount of diesel is then injected, igniting spontaneously under high pressure and temperature.
CMB.Tech claims the technology cuts emissions by 60–90% compared to conventional diesel engines, depending on load and engine type. Moreover, the firm estimates it is cheaper, more reliable, and scalable to 1,000 kW and above versus fuel cells, which are more common in hydrogen traction projects.
