Powering Progress: South Africa-Japan Partnership Set to Spark R300 Billion GreenHydrogen Revolution

A partnership that could inject R300 billion into the local green-hydrogen economy over the next three to five years is rapidly taking shape between South Africa and Japan – and that is only part of the good news.

The inability to beneficiate its natural resources has hamstrung Africa’s development for dozens of decades, and South Africa is determined to not repeat the mistake in its transition to a new energy era. As home to 70% of the world’s deposits of platinum-group metals (PGMs), the country holds the keys to the development of large-scale hydrogen technology.

“It is an opportunity we cannot afford to waste,” says Head of the Department of Science and Innovation’s Energy Secretariat at the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) Professor Sampson Mamphweli, who is instrumental in shaping a partnership between the South African and Japanese governments that aims to not only benefit the two countries, but to advance
the application of hydrogen technology worldwide.

Earlier this month, Prof Mamphweli and the Department of Science and Innovation hosted the president of the Japanese External Trade Organisation and more than 30 Japanese companies for a follow-up round of discussions about partnerships in the hydrogen economy space.

Hydrogen-related engagements between the countries started three to four years ago when Japan first expressed an interest in buying green hydrogen from South Africa. Having already identified the East Asian nation as the global leader in hydrogen economy technology and a valuable potential partner in realising South Africa’s hydrogen society roadmap, the government welcomed the
approach.

Meeting at the highest levels of government resulted in the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between South Africa and Japan in November 2023 when a South African delegation led by Minister Blade Nzimande travelled to Japan.

Since then, much progress has been made to implement the provisions of the agreement, with local companies Hive Energy and Sasol having already signed agreements with Japanese investors and companies. The Hive Energy project alone will create in excess of 1 500 jobs.