Mission Critical

Green hydrogen: A path to African industrialisation or another false dawn?

By David Whitehouse

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Posted on August 10, 2023 04:00

South Africa hosts inaugural green hydrogen summit in Cape Town © South African president Cyril Ramaphosa speaks at the Green Hydrogen Summit at Century City in Cape Town, South Africa, November 29, 2022. REUTERS/Esa Alexander — South African president Cyril Ramaphosa speaks at the Green Hydrogen Summit at Century City in Cape Town, South Africa, November 29, 2022. REUTERS/Esa Alexander

The Ukraine war has limited Europe’s options for natural gas and reduced the possible sources of hydrogen, heightening the focus on Africa. How much the continent could capitalise on this is yet to be seen.

Does Africa stand to benefit from supplying green hydrogen to Western countries aiming to reduce use of fossil fuels? Experts are divided, but see little chance of the continent being able to finance development of a green hydrogen industry itself.

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