Africa must accelerate participation in green hydrogen value chains, says Dr Gina
The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Nomalungelo Gina, says Africa must increase its participation in the green hydrogen value chain over the next three years.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Africa Green Hydrogen Summit in Cape Town today, the Deputy Minister said Africa's green hydrogen sector was entering a critical new phase, as projects move beyond feasibility studies and planning towards investment, implementation and large-scale deployment.
"Every major project should be viewed as an opportunity to develop local supply chains, technology capability, manufacturing and skills," said Dr Gina, during a Ministerial Plenary titled "Powering gigawatt-scale green hydrogen".
"From the perspective of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, our focus is to ensure that this growth is accompanied by the development of technology capability, intellectual property, skills and local industrial capacity," she said.
South Africa has made significant investments in building these capabilities. Through Hydrogen South Africa, the country has developed expertise across the hydrogen and fuel-cell value chain, including catalysts, fuel cells, electrolysers, hydrogen storage, metal hydrides, compression and refuelling technologies.
This has resulted in the country's hydrogen intellectual property being filed in 14 countries, including South Africa, with approximately 70% linked to commercial products.
In addition, several catalyst products are already being sold to local and international customers, while work is underway with the Technology Innovation Agency towards establishing local manufacturing capacity.
"These examples demonstrate that the journey from research to market is possible. But they also show us that RDI alone is not enough," she said. This is why collaboration between government, industry, academia, investors and international partners is so important, she added.
The Deputy Minister, alongside the Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane, unveiled the Eastern Cape Green Hydrogen Strategy.
The strategy details how the Eastern Cape intends to leverage its renewable-energy and industrial advantages to attract investment, develop new industries, create jobs and strengthen its position in the emerging global green economy.
A partnership between the DSTI, Nelson Mandela University and the South African National Energy Development Institute, the strategy is ultimately about using green hydrogen as a catalyst for industrialisation, economic growth and long-term regional competitiveness.
Premier Mabuyane said the strategy provided a roadmap to attract investment, deepen value chains, support localisation and skills development, and ensure that existing automotive, manufacturing and export industries remain competitive as global markets transition to lower-carbon production.
The Eastern Cape has more than 2.4 Gigawatts of renewable-energy projects operational or under construction and a renewable-energy pipeline exceeding 10 Gigawatts. The ports of Ngqura and East London, Coega SEZ and East London IDZ, together with an established automotive and manufacturing base, provide industrial and export infrastructure close to potential production sites.
Deputy Minister Gina said government must continue to create an enabling policy and institutional environment. Research institutions must increasingly understand and respond to market requirements.
The event saw the announcement of the First Wave of South Africa's national green hydrogen and Power-to-X (PtX) projects by the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, and the launch of the inaugural Hydrogen Deal Book.
This marked a milestone in the implementation of the country's Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy and the development of a pipeline of investment-ready projects in South Africa.
Issued by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
For more information, please contact Veronica Mohapeloa at 0834005750 or veronica.mohapeloa@dsti.gov.za
