Minister of electricity and energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has reaffirmed SA’s commitment to securing and supporting the development of various energy sources to address the country’s power needs.
Speaking at the launch of the African Green Hydrogen 2025 summit at Isondo Precious Metals in Kempton Park on Tuesday, Ramokgopa said dealing with energy issues was vital to unlocking the country’s economic potential.
Central to that was the transformative potential of green hydrogen as a clean, sustainable energy source, which he said could play an important role in decarbonising sectors such as aviation and maritime transport, filling the gap where renewable electricity alone cannot meet demand, and serving as a vital component in the transition to a more sustainable energy mix.
Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water into its constituent hydrogen and oxygen atoms, a process called electrolysis, using renewable electricity. The method results in hydrogen that is free from carbon emissions, making it a clean and sustainable energy source that only emits water vapour as a by-product.
The importance of green hydrogen lies in its potential to help decarbonise sectors that are difficult to electrify directly, such as heavy industry, shipping, and long-term energy storage. Recent studies note that green hydrogen has the potential to replace fossil fuels in those areas, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
At present green hydrogen production accounts for a small fraction of total hydrogen production, mainly due to its higher cost compared to hydrogen derived from fossil fuels — so-called grey hydrogen. However, costs are rapidly decreasing as renewable energy becomes cheaper and electrolysis technology improves.
Green hydrogen has been identified as a potential solution to SA’s energy challenges, with the government aiming to explore its development and implementation.
In the production of green hydrogen, platinum group metals (PGMs) such as platinum, ruthenium, and iridium serve as catalysts in the electrochemical process of splitting water, facilitating the reaction, increasing its efficiency while reducing the amount of energy required.
PGMs are particularly effective due to their high activity, stability and durability, making them essential components in green hydrogen production. SA, being a major producer of these metals, is well positioned to leverage this advantage in developing green hydrogen.
We are confident of our technical ability and are trained to solve problems.
— Kgosientsho Ramokgopa
“We are confident of our technical ability and are trained to solve problems,” Ramokgopa said. “The problem is an SA economy that is not growing and a sub-element of [the solution to] that is the contribution of green hydrogen in resolving the energy complex.”
The minister also pointed to SA’s competitive advantages in this emerging sector, including vast reserves of PGMs, exceptional solar radiation — particularly in the Northern Cape — and abundant land. Coupled with a growing pool of highly skilled graduates, “these factors position SA as a key player in the global green hydrogen value chain”, he said.
Minerals Council SA president Paul Dunne expressed support for the development of green hydrogen. As a representative of the mining sector, which employs 475,000 people, he highlighted the importance of precious metals in the process.
“Splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen is no mean feat, and there are three particular metals that enable that splitting and combination — platinum and two lesser-known metals, ruthenium and iridium. As a country we produce 90% of the world’s ruthenium and iridium,” he said.
Isondo Precious Metals CEO Vinay Somera said the major hurdle in pioneering green hydrogen projects was funding, due to the market’s early-stage development and investors’ cautious approach. Green hydrogen was essential in achieving a sustainable, low-carbon future, not withstanding the costs at present, he said.
“Hydrogen offers superior energy storage capabilities compared to batteries, particularly for seasonal storage. Hydrogen infrastructure may ultimately be more cost-effective than expanding electrical grids to support electric vehicles.”
The African Green Hydrogen 2025 summit takes place on June 12-13 in Cape Town.
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