South Africa is accelerating efforts to develop its hydrogen economy by deepening its ties with Japan to attract new investment in the sector.
During a four-day trip to Japan this week, Nomalungelo Gina, South Africa’s deputy minister of science, technology and innovation, will meet with officials to discuss demand stimulation, international collaboration and supply-chain management between the two countries.
South Africa is looking to ramp up its production of hydrogen as part of its Hydrogen Society Roadmap, and wants to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
According to the South African government, the Japan trip will serve as a “bedrock to create institutional foundations for market-based hydrogen trading and price discovery, an essential step towards legitimising hydrogen as a tradable energy asset.”
Gina is keen to highlight the potential for collaboration the two countries. “For example, to reduce the carbon intensity within the aviation sector, South Africa aims to learn from Japan’s advancements in sustainable aviation fuel,” she says.
“Strengthening cooperation with Japanese research institutions and enterprises specialising in sustainable aviation fuels and renewable energy sources will be essential,” she adds.
Insights gained from the trip will, Gina argues, be key when it comes to developing a “robust infrastructure” for renewable hydrogen – which is generated using sources such as wind and solar, and also known as green hydrogen – and sustainable fuels in South Africa.
In September 2023, the two countries signed a memorandum of cooperation to help establish a sustainable hydrogen and ammonia supply chain.