Hydrogen
Representative Image UNSPLASH

South Africa is open to contributing significantly as a vital strategic partner in the hydrogen economy, said Minister Ebrahim Patel, Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC) Tuesday.

Patel made the statement at the Investing in African Mining Indaba event in Cape Town. He was accompanied by participants from the country's industrial and energy sectors and foreign investors from around the world.

According to Patel, the creation of Green Hydrogen offered South Africa a unique chance to take advantage of its natural resources and increase its manufacturing capacity to satisfy the demands of the global green industrial revolution. "We are doing a bit of work with Invest South Africa to pilot, in the renewable energy space, bringing a one-stop shop that investors can use, as well as others in areas of energy where there are significant regulatory requirements," he said, as reported by IOL.

Patel noted that the DTIC was exploring methods to simplify investing in South Africa so that investors wouldn't need to adhere to several regulatory restrictions.

Also speaking at the event, the head of Infrastructure South Africa, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, stated that conversations must include regular people to demonstrate the advantages and how the green industrial revolution can help communities through better job opportunities.

Buti Manamela, deputy minister of higher education, science, and innovation, stated that to support the growth of the green hydrogen economy, educational institutions must provide future generations with the knowledge and training needed to ensure the sector's success.

Meanwhile, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed by the chemical business Omnia Group and WKN Windcurrent, a division of the German renewables company PNE, to gain access to the on-site generation of green hydrogen and ammonia in South Africa. According to the agreement, a green ammonia plant with a capacity of 1,000,000 tonnes per year will be run entirely on renewable energy, iAfrica reported.

The collaboration will aid South Africa in meeting its decarbonization goals by reducing import dependence and limiting rail logistics. Also, the country's green hydrogen value chain expansion will support the government's plan to create a green hydrogen economy.