Page 10 - AfrElec Week 12 2021

AfrElec HYDROGEN AfrElec

South Africa offers considerable

potential for hydrogen economy

SOUTH AFRICA HYDROGEN could play an important role in Work had begun to form an integrated hydro-
the South African economy, Mineral Resources gen ecosystem known as the ‘Platinum Valley.’
and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said this This initiative would identify concrete project
week. opportunities to kick-start hydrogen fuel cell
Mantashe told the Platinum Group Metals manufacturing in promising hubs.
(PGMs) Industry Day that hydrogen energy was The minister was positive that this would cre-
being considered by the government as one of ate an opportunity to build a local skills base and
the most plausible choices for alternative energy lead the country into a new era of energy gener-
for industry. ation and demand for the PGMs.
The minister said that the government’s “We continue to work with all stakeholders to
Hydrogen South Africa (HySA) strategy aimed promote investment through a conducive policy
to drive forward research, development and and regulatory framework. This includes efforts
innovation. to reduce current timeframes for mining, pros-
HySA aims to stimulate and guide innovation pecting, water and environmental licences,” he
along the value chain of hydrogen and fuel cell said.
technologies, which would ultimately position PwC said in October that South Africa had
South Africa to derive local benefits from sup- the ability to develop a major green hydrogen
plying high value-added products. export industry if it could take advantage of its
South Africa would to supply PGM catalysts renewable energy potential.
and catalytic devices to the emerging interna- PwC said that that South Africa had world-
tional fuel cells and hydrogen markets. class renewable potential that can be leveraged to
Mantashe added that the South African gov- supply clean energy to the world and transform
ernment was strongly committed to HySA strat- the domestic economy.
egy’s goal of supplying 25% of global PGM-based “Traditionally, South Africa has been an net
catalyst demand for the hydrogen and fuel cell importer of energy, especially in the liquid fuels
industry, using local technologies. and gaseous sector – development of the hydro-
“Hydrogen fuel cells have already been gen production sector will be pivotal in cement-
successfully deployed to provide electricity ing South Africa’s position as a net exporter of
in schools and to field hospitals. We now look clean energy and major earner of foreign cur-
forward to manufacturing and commercialisa- rency to our economy, but also to secure clean
tion, as this will shine the light to the possibil- domestic energy supply that is de-risked from
ity of a new, renewable source of energy while supply chain disruptions and currency devalua-
also establishing new uses and markets for the tion,” said Le Riche Burger, Africa South Market
platinum group metals,” Mantashe said in a SME for hydrogen in PwC’s strategy division.™
statement.

P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 12 25•March•2021