By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa noted the role of green hydrogen in addressing the energy crisis and, subsequently, contributing to economic and sustainable growth.
Ramakgopa was speaking at the launch of the African Green Hydrogen 2025 summit at Isondo Precious Metals in Kempton Park on Tuesday.
The Isondo Precious Metal facility, located at the OR Tambo SEZ 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.
Ramokgopa described the launch as a critical step towards resolving the country’s electricity deficit, a structural constraint that has hindered economic 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 has 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”.
Green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy sources like solar and wind, is emerging as a cornerstone of South Africa’s energy transition.
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 includes the manufacturing of beneficiating PGMs into catalysts and MEAs for electrolysers and fuel cells.
Additionally, he noted that the facility, at full production, will 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.”