South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala announced that South Africa’s Green Hydrogen National Programme (GHNP) has attracted over R800 billion in projects since it became part of the Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) in 2022. Speaking at the Green Hydrogen Devac conference in Sandton, Johannesburg, he noted that approximately 20% of these investments are now at the bankable feasibility stage.
Zikalala emphasized that only 1% of the country’s land is needed to support the green hydrogen economy, which will create jobs and enhance the national economy. This land is largely unsuitable for agriculture or human habitation, with an additional 5.2 million hectares available in Renewable Energy Development Zones.
He highlighted that Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), a part of the department, has facilitated these projects by streamlining approval processes through the designation of GHNP as a Strategic Integrated Project (SIP), allowing many green hydrogen initiatives to progress rapidly.
In closing, Zikalala called for collaboration between green hydrogen stakeholders and the government to localize the production of value-added products. He noted that South Africa has the potential to produce between 6 to 13 million tons of green hydrogen and its derivatives annually by 2050, establishing the country as a prime investment destination in this sector, with opportunities in green shipping, fertilizer production, electrolyser manufacturing, and port development.