CAPE TOWN – Thursday, June 12, 2025 – President Cyril Ramaphosa says Africa must seize its position as a global leader in green hydrogen production to drive industrial growth, tackle climate change, and create millions of jobs across the continent.
Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural Africa Green Hydrogen Summit on Thursday at Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, Ramaphosa described green hydrogen as a unique opportunity to align the continent’s mineral wealth with its abundant renewable energy resources. He said Africa’s solar, wind and hydropower potential could anchor a new era of inclusive growth and attract major investments.
“This summit is now a platform for our shared continental ambitions,” said Ramaphosa, addressing ministers, diplomats, industry leaders and development partners. “Africa is rising to meet this moment of opportunity and potential.”
The summit, which began as a national platform in 2022, has expanded into a continental forum. The Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance—comprising South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Namibia, Mauritania and Morocco—aims to produce between 30 to 60 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2050. Ramaphosa said this scale of ambition could lead to the creation of up to four million new jobs.
Among the 52 large-scale hydrogen projects already announced are South Africa’s Coega Green Ammonia initiative in the Eastern Cape and Mauritania’s AMAN project. Ramaphosa revealed that four more flagship hydrogen proposals are being prepared for Cabinet consideration.
South Africa has already invested R1.49 billion in its Hydrogen South Africa programme. The Sasol-led HySHiFT project in Mpumalanga is producing green hydrogen and targets up to 400,000 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel annually. The Coega project is in advanced planning stages.
Ramaphosa said the new South African Renewable Energy Masterplan will support local manufacturing of hydrogen-related components and foster job creation. New regulations on electricity wheeling and upgrades to the national grid are also opening the door for independent power producers.
He acknowledged, however, that the cost of capital and perceived risk remain significant hurdles for African projects to reach financial close. He said global investment patterns favour other regions, leaving many African hydrogen projects stuck in early development stages.
Germany’s H2Global mechanism, which has dedicated one of its four bidding windows to African hydrogen, is expected to unlock off-take opportunities. A bilateral declaration between Germany and South Africa also focuses on market access and value addition in industries such as green steel and fertiliser.
Ramaphosa urged African governments to develop regional hydrogen certification standards and support domestic demand creation. He pointed to Sasolburg’s hydrogen-fuel mobility pilot as a key local enabler.
With African countries facing increasingly extreme weather patterns due to climate change, he said the green hydrogen economy could build resilience and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
“This is not a moment for hype. It is a moment for action,” Ramaphosa told delegates. “We must be the authors of our own future.”
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