Page 8 - AfrElec Week 38 2021

AfrElec HYDROGEN AfrElec

Sasol and Imperial partner to

develop hydrogen in Africa

SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH African companies Sasol and Imperial existing process equipment and proprietary
Logistics will partner to develop Southern Afri- technology. It said decarbonising heavy-duty
ca’s hydrogen mobility ecosystem. long-haul trucking using fuel cell electric (FCE)
The two companies entered into an agree- trucks is an area of interest to both Sasol and
ment to collaborate in exploring options and Imperial.
solutions for improving freight sustainability Imperial, one of Southern Africa’s major
and efficiency in Southern Africa. The two fleet operators, is also searching for new ways
companies will also be evaluating potential to switch to greener fuels to reduce its carbon
cross-border collaboration. footprint by exploring a range of alternative
Sasol, a company still heavily invested in fossil truck technologies. For heavy commercial vehi-
fuels, in the last year has expanded its foray into cles travelling long distances, FCE trucks hold
green energy. Earlier this year Sasol declared its promise as a viable zero-carbon solution, the
intention to play a leading role in the develop- statement said.
ment of a green hydrogen economy in South “Sasol’s expertise in hydrogen production and
Africa, using green hydrogen to help decar- refuelling infrastructure combined with Imperi-
bonise hard-to-abate sectors such as freight al’s expertise in fleet management, its extensive
transportation. transport footprint and superior end-to-end
In April, it announced a partnership with supply chain solution capabilities are expected to
Toyota to jointly pursue the development of a deliver good synergies from the collaboration.”
proof-of-concept demonstration for a green Priscillah Mabelane, executive vice-presi-
hydrogen mobility ecosystem in South Africa. It dent of Sasol Energy Business, said the partner-
is also part of a consortium that includes Linde ship was another milestone on Sasol’s journey to
to develop a sustainable aviation fuel plant, using develop the green hydrogen economy of South
green hydrogen. Africa.
Sasol and the Industrial Development Cor- “Green hydrogen can help tackle various crit-
poration of South Africa (IDC) also have a ical energy challenges and is positioned for rapid
memorandum of co-operation to jointly develop global growth as the pathway of choice to decar-
and shape an enabling environment to advance bonise, amongst others, the long-haul transport
South Africa’s green hydrogen economy. sector.”
Sasol said it is continuing to engage widely Imperial’s Group CEO, Mohammed Akoo-
with industry, OEMs and government to ensure jee, notes that one of Imperial’s strategic pillars
the successful take-off of South Africa’s hydro- is integrating environmental, social and gov-
gen economy. ernance (ESG) practices into its business activ-
In a statement on Tuesday, 21 September ities. “This strategic partnership with Sasol, a
announcing the partnership, Sasol said South long-standing and valued Imperial client, helps
Africa’s transition to a low-carbon future cement our commitment to a just transition
requires bold innovation and investment in to a low-carbon economy, and is another step
transformative technologies. towards positioning Imperial at the forefront of
“A green hydrogen sector holds promise for alternative energy fleets,” he said.
growth and development in the country’s pri- “We also welcome the opportunity to work
marily coal-based economy and will contribute together with Sasol to develop viable and sustain-
to South Africa’s international climate change able greener supply chain solutions that will not
commitments.” only benefit our clients and principals, but the
Sasol also plans to use green hydrogen pro- broader logistics and supply chain industry.”™
duced at its operations facilities by leveraging

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