Building on the success of the 2022 and 2023 South Africa Green Hydrogen Summits, the African Green Hydrogen Summit (AGHS) 2025 aims to showcase Africa’s potential as a global leader in green hydrogen production, unlocking investment opportunities and strategic partnerships.

The AGHS, launched on June 10, will convene African energy Ministers, policymakers, investors, developers, technology partners and research institutions to shape the continent’s emerging green hydrogen sector.

Discussions will focus on market approaches, investment opportunities, technology deployment and Africa’s position in the global green hydrogen value chain.

Hosted by the Department of Electricity and Energy, the summit will be held at the Century City Conference Centre, in Cape Town, from June 12 to 13.

Key highlights of the summit will include the launch of the Pan-African Green Hydrogen Development Report; the unveiling of the African Green Hydrogen Strategy by the African Union Commissioner for Energy & Infrastructure; and strategic sessions by the Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance member countries: South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Kenya, Ethiopia, Morocco, Mauritania, Egypt and Djibouti.

The AGHS will also showcase innovation, technologies and project pipelines, as well as drive industrialisation through renewable energy and mineral beneficiation.

ISONDO PRECIOUS METALS
To showcase South Africa’s progress in green hydrogen production, the launch highlighted Isondo Precious Metals’ progress in pioneering Africa’s role in the global hydrogen economy, boosting re-industrialisation and local manufacturing capacity.

The Isondo Precious Metal facility, located at the OR Tambo Special Economic Zone in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, is one of Africa’s first facilities producing platinum group metal- (PGM-) based membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) and catalysts for electrolysers – critical components in green hydrogen technology.

At the launch, Isondo Precious Metals CEO Vinay Somera said South Africa was at a “critical crossroads” with regard to green hydrogen opportunities, describing the AGHS as a “milestone event”.

“We have some of the best sun and wind resources in the world in certain parts of the country, it allows us to produce green hydrogen relatively cheaper than most of the other countries in the world, but producing the hydrogen only captures a fraction, or part of that value chain or country opportunity.

“We are also richly endowed with precious metals, PGMs, and these metals are critical in enabling the global green hydrogen value chain,” he said.

Somera highlighted the Isondo facility’s role in aiding value addition for green hydrogen in South Africa, as well as the facility’s alignment with the national agenda to drive inclusive and sustainable growth through green hydrogen.

He discussed the company’s main projects, which include the manufacturing of beneficiating PGMs into catalysts and MEAs for electrolysers and fuel cells.

Additionally, he noted that the facility, at full production, would help save about 1.6-million tonnes of carbon emissions a year through its products, as well as create about 300 new jobs.

“Our work contributes towards helping to . . .  reindustrialise our base, and by manufacturing the fuel cell components locally, especially those that use our PGMs, we are also impacting on other areas of the economy, and we are also helping turn our mineral wealth into sustainable new opportunity."

Samera noted that the company buys its platinum, iridium and other precious metals from local miner Northam Platinum, which will help increase demand for the country’s PGM production.

The company has also established an intern recruitment and training programme, with 15 new interns having started the programme.

“The opportunity before us now is historic from a country perspective. This green hydrogen economy is not something that we are waiting for, it is something that we are building and something that we need to be building right here, right now, and building together, it's the only way we can do it.

“It is imperative that we work together as one team with one vision,” he said.

Also speaking during the launch, Energy and Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa expressed that the facility would significantly contribute to employment creation, emphasising the importance of building a pipeline of skills in the sector.

Discussing the importance of critical minerals for economic development, job creation, industrial advancement and national security, he described the South African mining sector as a “sunrise industry”, highlighting local initiatives such as the Critical Minerals Strategy to help boost the sector.

Ramokgopa also noted the role of green hydrogen in addressing the energy crisis and, subsequently, contributing to economic and sustainable growth.

“It is important that, as we grow the economy, we must green the economy,” he said, noting the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as voluntary targets to address climate change locally.

“As part of our meeting our NDCs, it's important that we are able to lift the contribution of green hydrogen in that complex,” he continued, noting that Africa had the capacity to generate significant amounts of energy through solar plants.

The Minister also discussed the importance of working with international partners, emphasising a balanced relationship in this regard.

“It's important that when we enter the conversation, we enter as equals . . . We must find a meeting point, a place of alignment, a place of convergence, so that we are able to benefit humanity.”