South Africa: More than R1.49 billion Invested in Green Hydrogen Projects Says SA President

Africa is accelerating its green hydrogen drive, with more than 52 large-scale projects having been announced across the continent, representing billions of dollars’ worth of investment.

According to South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, who spoke in Cape Town on June 12, the country alone has invested R1.49 billion in its Hydrogen South Africa program. South Africa is currently advancing five flagship green hydrogen projects, including the HySHiFT initiative, which aims to produce 400,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel annually.

“Green hydrogen is a way to marry Africa’s riches with our renewable energy endowment to decarbonize heavy industries, to create jobs, to stimulate investment and to unlock inclusive growth across borders,” President Ramaphosa stated.

In addition to its industrial ambitions, South Africa is fast-tracking reforms such as wheeling regulations and the creation of an Independent Transmission Projects Office to facilitate electricity transmission growth – critical for hydrogen-linked renewable energy expansion.

President Rampahosa also highlighted that the African continent has the potential to produce between 30 and 60 million tons of green hydrogen annually by 2050, potentially creating up to four million jobs across the member states of the Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance – Egypt, Morocco, Mauritania, Namibia and South Africa.

The President noted that projects such as South Africa’s Coega Green Ammonia project, Mauritania’s AMAN project and Morocco’s Project Nour are among the most advanced developments on the continent so far.

International partnerships are also playing a key role in the rollout of green hydrogen projects across the continent. Germany, through its H2Global mechanism, has allocated one of four green hydrogen bidding lots in Africa, ensuring off-take agreements for successful projects. A Joint Declaration of Intent between Germany and African countries is also in place to promote green steel and fertilizer production.