Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone – SBIDZ trading as Freeport Saldanha, along with ArcelorMittal Saldanha (Amsa), yesterday hosted an on-site visit as part of the “Reindustrialising Saldanha Day” initiative. The aim was to showcase Saldanha Bay’s potential as an ideal green hydrogen investment destination in the Western Cape.
Reindustrialising Saldanha Day provided an overview of pilot projects earmarked for the region, demonstrating how the region will be a critical player and catalyst in supporting South Africa’s Just Energy Transition and Investment Plan by creating and developing a green hydrogen economy.
Visiting stakeholders included delegates from Freeport Saldanha, the Presidency and ISA, Western Cape Government, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), Saldanha Bay Municipality, Infrastructure South Africa stakeholders, academia, and private energy industry businesses, including Sasol, Amsa, Atlanthia, Mainstream and Keren Energy.
The initiative forms part of the inaugural South Africa Green Hydrogen Summit (SAGHS) 2022 taking place in Cape Town this week. The conference will run from November 28-30, with President Cyril Ramaphosa giving the keynote address today.
The Summit forms part of the ongoing policymaking in South Africa centred around Just Energy Transition and the Investment Plan (JET-IP), tabled by President Ramaphosa at COP27 in November. JET-IP aims to accelerate the decarbonisation of SA’s economy, reducing carbon emissions and aligning with the new energy-orientated economic growth set out in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of the Paris Agreement.
“Today, we demonstrated why Saldanha Bay is the perfect investment location to develop a world-class, globally competitive, green hydrogen and derivatives production hub in the Western Cape province,” Kaashifah Beukes, Freeport Saldanha CEO, told assembled guests.
“Several reports – including that done by the CSIR – have highlighted the region’s advantages for renewable energy supply crucial for the Just Transition. We have demonstrated our innovation and readiness to unlock these new economic opportunities and embark on an industrialisation strategy, utilising the potential infrastructure in creating sustainable growth prospects for the region and the country.”
Councillor André Truter, Saldanha Bay executive mayor, added that Saldanha Bay was a people-centred municipality. “We are busy with a legacy project that could fundamentally change the way our children will be positioned economically and environmentally. As we move through this project, we should not forget the people of South Africa and the people of Saldanha Bay. They are our most important asset in this country.
“Saldanha Bay is perfectly positioned and ready to become not only the South African hub but the African hub of green hydrogen, for understanding energy mix, and understanding the role local government must play in this unbelievable journey.”
Freeport Saldanha, within the port of Saldanha Bay, is the deepest natural port in the Southern Hemisphere. It is South Africa’s first freeport, a special economic zone (SEZ) and customs-controlled area (CCA) dedicated to the maritime, energy, logistics and engineering industries.
The SAGHS will showcase the country's offering as an early-stage, large-scale, low-cost, world-class green hydrogen production hub and total value chain investment destination.
South Africa is one of the founding members of the Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance (AGHA), which seeks to promote continental green hydrogen cooperation. Senior delegations from the AGHA's other founding members, including Egypt, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco and Namibia, have also been invited to showcase their unique offerings at the event.
