CMB.TECH Namibia is advancing with the engineering and development of a green hydrogen–powered locomotive.
The locomotive is currently being assembled at the facilities of Traxtion, a South African rail engineering and refurbishment specialist.
The company states Namibia has a large fleet of idled locomotives that can be repowered with this cost-effective and future proof technology.
The freight locomotive is set for launch later this year. The project is the result of a partnership between TransNamib Holdings Limited, Africa Global Logistics and CMB.TECH Namibia.
TransNamib is actively exploring modernisation pathways, including the repowering of its existing locomotive fleet through innovative technologies such as dual fuel hydrogen systems.
Africa Global Logistics (AGL) manages operations at the Walvis Bay Multipurpose Bulk Terminal and operates one of Africa’s largest integrated logistics networks, with a presence in over 50 countries connecting ports, corridors and multimodal supply chains.
The three companies will operate Namibia’s first heavy‑duty freight service running on locally produced green hydrogen. Initially, 50 round trips will be covered between the Port of Walvis Bay and the Container Depot near Windhoek during the trial period, with the option to extend operations. Green hydrogen for the project will be produced off‑grid at CMB.TECH Namibia’s hydrogen plant in Walvis Bay.
CMB.TECH states that by converting an operational locomotive, the initiative aims to show how hydrogen can be integrated into freight rail without the need for new rolling stock or major infrastructure changes.
The locomotive is equipped with a BeHydro dual fuel hydrogen combustion engine. BeHydro, a joint venture between CMB.TECH and Anglo Belgian Corporation – markets hydrogen engines for marine, railway, and power applications, offering both dual fuel and 100% hydrogen configurations. BeHydro’s engine range is also suited for tractive power, making it applicable for repowered locomotives on non‑electrified rail lines.
CMB.TECH states that the Walvis Bay-Windhoek freight corridor offers the ideal environment to demonstrate the potential of hydrogen in heavy rail. Spanning 414 kilometres from the Atlantic coast to the Namibian highlands, the route climbs from just 6 metres above sea level to 1601 metres. The company stated that this demanding profile provides a meaningful real‑world test for traction performance, fuel substitution and system robustness under continuous load.
It adds that by operating the locomotive on this corridor, the project aims to validate hydrogen dual fuel technology in one of the most relevant use cases for freight rail: long distances, significant elevation change, and consistent operational requirements.
Written by Chamwe Kaira for Railways Africa
