PHOTO: HIVE ENERGY
A high-level delegation including the minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, and Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane, is in Japan as part of South Africa's strategy to establish itself as a global leader in green hydrogen production and export.
This aligns with Japan's ambitious net-zero goal which is to achieve a balance between the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) that's produced and the amount that's removed from the atmosphere.
The premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul, is also on the three-day working visit during which the delegation will showcase South Africa's "unified commitment to advancing flagship hydrogen projects such as Boegoebaai in the Northern Cape and the Coega Green Ammonia Project [in Gqeberha]."
In October 2023, Algoa FM News reported that the multi-billion dollar Hive Energy Green Ammonia plant being planned for the Coega Special Economic Zone would be supplying over 900 000 tons of green ammonia to Japan, Korea, and Europe.
Hive Energy UK said at the time that it was "playing the leading development role in Phase 1 of South Africa's $5.8 billion [more than R103b] Green Ammonia project at Coega, in Nelson Mandela Bay, to be commissioned in 2028."
More than 20,000 jobs are expected to be created.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Department of Electricity and Energy said the Boegoebaai and the Coega Green Ammonia projects were pivotal in transforming South Africa into a world-class hydrogen economy.
"During the visit [in Japan], Minister Ramokgopa [will be] engaging with key Japanese stakeholders, including major financial institutions and trading companies," it said.
"The discussions [will] focus on securing strategic investments, technical partnerships, and co-financing for large-scale hydrogen production, infrastructure development, and export capacity."
"Japan's pursuit of a sustainable hydrogen future presents a unique opportunity for South Africa," Ramokgopa said.
"Our goal is to leverage Japan's 2050 net-zero carbon objectives and its Hydrogen Society Promotion Act to position South Africa as a preferred supplier of green hydrogen and ammonia."
The minister added: "This visit not only demonstrates South Africa’s commitment to executing flagship green hydrogen projects but also highlights the growing international confidence in our hydrogen potential."
