Cape Town – Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says Africa can produce more energy than it requires within the next 30 years if it takes advantage of its natural resources.
Ramokgopa said this while speaking at the Africa Energy Week on Tuesday in Cape Town.
“We need to have a Pan African view in the exploitation of this energy carrier and our view is that by 2040 Africa can produce up to 50 times more energy from renewables than the world’s estimated demand.
“This is as a result of our location advantages. I think we have some of the radiation levels of any parts of the world and we also have some of the best wind speeds along the coastal areas,” he said.
Ramokgopa emphasised the importance of defining a “Just Energy Transition” with African characteristics, focusing on universal access to energy, exploiting critical minerals for green hydrogen development, and creating jobs to support this transition.
Delivering a keynote address on Green Hydrogen, at the Africa Energy Week, Cape Town on powering the future & the hydrogen revolution. pic.twitter.com/DV8yM63NF5
— Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa (@Kgosientsho_R) October 17, 2023
“We have got an opportunity to define a Just Energy Transition with African characteristics and in this instance, it is about universal access, the exploitation of critical minerals that are key to development of green hydrogen and realising its potential.
“We can see that by smelting African iron ore locally, we are likely going to create much needed jobs and therefore the skills that are required to support that transition. In that way, in addition to broadening the industrial base, we are really getting people in good quality jobs…this is in addition to the decarbonisation agenda,” he said.
He also addressed concerns about water resources, suggesting that coastal countries can use seawater for green hydrogen production, reducing the strain on limited freshwater resources.
Sub-Saharan Africa has the capacity to produce substantial amounts of green hydrogen, which could become financially competitive by 2050 and contribute significantly to national revenues, benefiting social infrastructure and improving the quality of life in African countries.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
