South Africa, as the leader of the Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance (AGHA), will leverage its position to promote the use of environmentally friendly hydrogen energy across the continent.
Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, assumed the role of Chairperson for AGHA during the recent Africa Climate Summit (ACS) in Nairobi, Kenya, held from September 4th to 6th, 2023. South Africa’s role will facilitate knowledge sharing, technology exchange, and the creation of economic and job opportunities.
Green hydrogen and its associated large-scale renewable energy production hold the potential to enhance electricity transmission infrastructure, expand renewable energy generation capacity, and support local renewable energy development. This is seen as a crucial element of South Africa’s future energy mix, contributing to sustainable energy security.
AGHA was established in May 2022 by six African nations, including Egypt, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, and South Africa, with the goal of advancing decarbonization through green hydrogen.
The alliance aims to strengthen cooperation and accelerate the development of green hydrogen projects across Africa in line with the Just Energy Transition.
AGHA’s focus areas include public and regulatory policies, capacity building, financing, and certification requirements to promote green hydrogen production for domestic use and export. Ethiopia and Angola have also joined the alliance alongside South Africa’s Chairmanship.
During the ACS, Minister Ramokgopa participated in panel discussions, sharing insights into South Africa’s energy outlook and the role of green hydrogen in enhancing energy security and fostering green industrialization.
Additionally, he engaged in high-level bilateral meetings to explore energy collaborations and meaningful partnerships in the energy sector, all aligned with South Africa’s commitment to ensuring consistent, sustainable, and affordable energy supply.
